Golfers aiming high at Academy

 

Children with disabilities in Staffordshire are aiming high on the golf course – thanks to a new partnership between The Golf Academy and Staffordshire County Council’s Aiming High for Disabled Children Programme.

 

On offer will be free golf sessions for disabled children, siblings and their parents/carers over the next 12 months.

 

The weekly two-hour short break sessions will take place on Monday evenings (5-7pm) and Saturday afternoons (3-5pm) and form part of a wide-range of activities for children with disabilities funded by Staffordshire County Council. The sessions will be available for children aged between four and 18.

 

The Aiming High in Staffordshire short breaks programme is funded by Staffordshire County Council to provide and commission short breaks for disabled children, young people and their families. 

 

 

Short breaks provide fun and leisure activities for disabled children and young people outside of the school day enabling them  to try new things, gain new experiences and have more opportunities in a supported environment independently from their families or as part of a family experience.

 

Short breaks also enable parents and carers to have a break from their caring role, which may allow them to have a rest, catch up on day to day activities, spend time with other family members or take up other interests.

 

The centre has also teamed up with the council’s Wellbeing team to provide golfing opportunities for adults with disabilities.

 

A series of 10 one-hour golf sessions will be held at Cannock Day Centre. To help anyone interested to continue playing golf, a set of clubs is being provided and golf course vouchers will be available to play at Cannock Park ‘pay and play’ course.

 

Craig Thomas, one of the founders of The Golf Academy, says: “These sessions will help to increase the participants’ self-esteem, self-confidence, will help them work together as a group both with younger and older adults and finally will help to increase social integration.

 

“The Wellbeing sessions will be open to adults over the age of 18 and so far we have had people taking part up to the age of 72. These individuals have a variety of special needs and are mostly vulnerable adults.”

 

Sean Hammill, county development officer for the Staffordshire County Golf Partnership, says: “These kind of schemes show how golf can reach out to all sections of the community and help provide a sporting interest that has both health and social benefits.”

 

The Golf Academy, which is based at The Range in Essington, near Wolverhampton, delivers a number of initiatives aimed at breaking down the barriers for people of all ages and abilities who want to take up golf.

 

For further details contact Craig Thomas on 07973 798483

 

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 Check out the latest information on the
Midlands Golf Week 2012 website!

 

Next year Midlands Golf Week will take place from the 9th - 15th April 2012, the week after The Masters.

The Midlands Golf Week website www.midlandsgolfweek.co.uk has now been updated and includes a number of excellent case studies to help clubs plan their 2012 activities.

Register your club for Midlands Golf Week 2012 by contacting Staffs County Development Officer Sean Hamill on 07771 794193 or E-mail: sean.hammill@btinternet.com.