Staffordshire Stars

 

A STAFFORDSHIRE golf coach has won a top national award for his work with special needs children.

 

Craig Thomas, from The Academy, was presented with the Golf Foundation's Burroughs Award by Europe's Ryder Cup winning captain Colin Montgomerie.

 

The Burroughs Award is for those people who support young golfers as they deal with adversity.

 

Commenting on his award, Thomas says: “I wanted to take away the barriers that are stopping these individuals from taking part in golf.

 

“Seeing someone who thought they would never hit a golf ball doing just that is a priceless feeling and makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

 

He added: “Having spent a lot of time as a child with my grandmother who worked in day centres and being around people with special needs,  I decided this was an area I would like to focus on.

 

“I wanted to find a way to put something back into the sport that I have got such a lot out of.”

 

The 30 years-old, who is also county development officer for the Cheshire Golf Partnership, was one of the first to qualify as a PGA professional through the foundation degree programme at The Belfry and has since gone on to achieve AA status – the highest available.

 

He started to work with special needs children in 2010 and now works with four disability sport and leisure development groups, including one in Newcastle Under Lyme, where he is the vice-chairman.

 

He has worked closely with the Staffordshire Sports Partnership and Mark Fosbrook, the disability awareness officer. He helped establish a programme through five primary and secondary schools using Tri Golf and X-Treme, culminating in a festival at Two Rivers School in Tamworth.

 

Formerly head professional at The Chase Golf Club in Staffordshire, Thomas is one of three founder members of the Golf Academy, based at The Range, in Essington, and Greenfield Golf Club near Wolverhampton, which has recently been awarded RangeMark.

 

The Academy has concentrated its efforts on opening up the sport to all-comers and is working closely with Cannock and Stafford Council to help form a golf development team to help get people from Cannock into golf.

 

“I believe it is important that we make golf as accessible and affordable to people to give them the best possible opportunities to take up the sport,” he added.

 

Sean Hammill, county development officer for the Staffordshire Golf Partnership, said: “Craig has done a fantastic job in leading the work of the Partnership's disability programme and his award is well deserved and a fitting reflection on the work done to encourage people of all ages and abilities into golf.”

 

For more details of the activities in Staffordshire visit www.staffsgolfpartnership.com

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The Queen honours outstanding volunteer group in Staffordshire with prestigious Award

 

Rudyard Sailability from Rudyard, Nr Leek has been announced as one of 130 winners of The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the MBE for groups of volunteers who work in their local community for the benefit of others.

 

This prestigious UK National Honour recognises outstanding voluntary contributions and sets the national benchmark for excellence in volunteering, with the work of those awarded being judged to be of the highest standard.

 

Rudyard Sailability has received the Award for providing sailing and water-based activities for those who live with disability.

 

Those receiving this year’s Award were selected from 413 groups nominated by members of the public who have been helped personally or witnessed the benefits of a group’s work in their community.

 

Rudyard Sailability will receive a certificate signed by The Queen and an exclusive commemorative crystal, presented by Her Majesty's representative in Staffordshire, Lord Lieutenant Sir James Hawley at a special ceremony.

 

The group has also received an invitation for representatives to attend a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

 

Speaking of their success, Dennis Priebe, Chairman from Rudyard Sailability said, “We are thrilled to have received this prestigious honour for the work we do at Rudyard Lake with those who live with disability.  This accolade is an uplifting tribute to the countless hours of support, hard work and dedication that the charity has received from all sectors of the community both on and off the water. We have had the privilege of working with thousands of members and volunteers since 2002 and this award has further inspired us to strive to improve and enhance our service in the years to come.”

 

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Award Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Martyn Lewis CBE said,

 

“Volunteer groups make such an important contribution to their communities, often without praise for the incredible job they do.  In these difficult times their efforts are even more valuable.  It’s a pleasure to celebrate the achievements of Rudyard Sailability with The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service and give official recognition for the benefits they bring to others’ lives.”

 

More than 980 groups around the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man have now received this annual Award since it was created by Her Majesty to mark the occasion of her Golden Jubilee in 2002.

 

For details of all this year’s Award winners and information on how to nominate a group, visit www.direct.gov.uk/qavs, where a nomination form can be downloaded.

 

 For further information

Dennis Priebe, 07837271783

dennis.priebe@hotmail.co.uk