The Golf Foundation is teaming up with the LFC Foundation to introduce more children to golf in communities in and around the city of Liverpool and wider Merseyside area. And what better way to kick this off than in the area’s schools through the Golf Foundation’s own Primary Schools Programme.
Part of the LFC Foundation’s Game On programme in partnership with Nike, the aim of this school and community drive is to bring the fun of golf and its positive health and wellbeing benefits to a new audience of children and young people from all backgrounds.
To get started, the Golf Foundation’s Schools Manager Andy Leigh recently visited with the LFC Foundation (official charity of Liverpool Football Club) to deliver a Golfway Activator Workshop to members of the staff. Andy was immediately impressed by the level of “focused support” from their team.
The Golf Foundation’s introduction to golf for primary schools, using specially adapted Golfway kit which is easy for youngsters to get started, was very well received during the workshop. The learning of life skills is built into the schools programme, helping to create confidence, focus, self-reflection and other positive attributes that can be used by pupils in golf and in their wider life.
These benefits will be rolled out in schools with support from the LFC Foundation. The project will also be supported by PGA Professionals and a number of local golf clubs, who will then aim to encourage the children to enjoy more golf in a welcoming golf club environment.
The first phase of the project includes schools and clubs on The Wirral. LFC Foundation staff, together with PGA Professional Simon Hooton from Wirral Golf Academy, were greeted by excited youngsters as they staged the first sessions featuring local school children. Youngsters have also enjoyed their first golf in the sunshine in Liverpool’s Norris Green Park and Garston Adventure Playground as part of delivering golf in community settings.
Dawn Georgeson, Community Sport Programme Manager for the LFC Foundation, said: “Our Foundation team really enjoyed our workshop with Andy, and they were then all eager to get out there and support these community golf sessions. I think the project can succeed because the LFC Foundation and the Golf Foundation together recognise the value of sport for young people and its crucial part in helping their physical and mental wellbeing.”
Early feedback from the sessions has been positive. Angela Dale, Founder of the Wirral Golf Academy, said: “We had a fantastic time working in the park today with the LFC Foundation. It was brilliant for the boys and girls to meet representatives of the official charity of this famous football club while also enjoying golf coaching and a start in golf. Together we can definitely grow the game across The Wirral and Liverpool. Huge thanks to Mike and Brett for supporting our coach Simon throughout the day.”
Andy Leigh from the Golf Foundation said: “To have a football club like Liverpool backing us and offering to help open doors in the community is a massive thing. As a charity, we rely on making dynamic collaborations and this one is simply fantastic.
“Liverpool Football Club clearly has the strongest of bonds with local young people and this of course includes the area’s schools. So, it really is a huge opportunity for us together to bring all the benefits and fun of golf to the youngsters of Merseyside.”
Andy added: “These early sessions will be all about energetic fun and a start in golf while later we’ll be exploring more about the valuable life skills benefits that the sport offers our youngsters. Thanks to the LFC team for their great enthusiasm so far and to Angela Dale for her excellent support in this first phase.”