Bring It On Brum
Birmingham, UK
High-energy, inclusive games and children’s laughter in Edgbaston – golf was right at the centre of a major city scheme in Birmingham to keep kids active, healthy and happy during the summer of 2021.
Some 90 children from different backgrounds enjoyed golf games with their community group leaders and volunteers using Golfway equipment supplied by the Golf Foundation.
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Children engaged with golf games using Golfway product
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Local projects in Birmingham have used a Golfway in their activities
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The number of coaching kits used using various sized clubs for appropriate player heights
Working with the Golf Foundation’s partner ‘Street Games’ who are specialists in offering doorstep activity to young people in city areas, and with support from The R&A, the Foundation joined the Birmingham project to captivate children of all abilities and get them energised through golf, supporting the local City council.
Training was given to community volunteers to pass on the fun and life skills golf offers, while using eight new full Golfway Kit Bags with all the equipment needed for a first go at golf.
Sixteen local projects in the city have enjoyed Golfway, including community and faith groups and health charities. Each provided four golf sessions to their young people before they got to show their new skills at the ‘Bring it on Brum’ festival. Many got to play shots and get tips from Golf Foundation Ambassador Nicola Bennett, who is helping the Foundation reach more youngsters in city schools.
Tom Sparks, who leads on community engagement for the Golf Foundation, said: “It has been brilliant to demonstrate Golfway to a diverse selection of community groups that all have one thing in common: creating positive environments for their young people to thrive in and giving them confidence to reach their potential in what they do.
“This is just a start, a taster of golf, but you can’t underestimate how a positive experience of a new sport, enjoyed with your friends in a friendly environment, can have a beneficial effect on a young person and change perceptions.”
Making golf more inclusive and introducing the game to all children is a cornerstone of the Golf Foundation’s HSBC Golf Roots programme that aims to bring golf to 2 million youngsters over the next five years, and in 7,500 schools.