County Union is awarded SafeGolf mark for its work to protect players
LEICESTERSHIRE and Rutland Golf Union is among the latest organisation to be awarded the SafeGolf mark.
This is an accreditation initiative promoted by England Golf to grow the sport and demonstrate commitment to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
The award was made to the county GU president Richard Barker (Longcliffe) by Emily Rowbottom, England Golf’s Support Officer for the county.
She said: “I am delighted that Leicestershire and Rutland have achieved SafeGolf and that their efforts to grow the game and safeguard its participants can be recognised nationally in this way.”
SafeGolf is a partnership of UK golf bodies committed to promote a safe and positive environment for all those taking part, working and volunteering in the sport.
The SafeGolf partnership consists of members from the golfing bodies across Great Britain and Ireland and has been established to help and respond to the issue of child protection in sport.
SafeGolf is a website via which anyone with concerns about the welfare of a player, or the behaviour or practice of a coach, volunteer, organiser, parent or a player, can contact the lead safeguarding officer at their governing body.
Secondly, it is the safeguarding standard England Golf will promote to all their affiliated clubs and centres to ensure everyone provides a safe and positive experience for children and young people while playing golf.
The Professional Golfers’ Association are also using the standards to apply to all their PGA professional coaches.
This new accreditation integrates GolfMark which is an official seal of approval for clubs which successfully work to develop the game in four ways.
These are by attracting new members and encouraging existing members to play more; using practical business planning to develop the club; offering coaching and playing opportunities for all golfers; and ensuring safeguarding policies are in place.
County Golf Union secretary Terry Walker (Kirby Muxloe) said: “We are all delighted to be awarded SafeGolf which will further emphasise and enhance GolfMark which we have adhered to throughout the county union’s affiliated member clubs for many years now since it was introduced.
“GolfMark brings a number of benefits to clubs including raising awareness, access to funding, business and marketing support and training opportunities for staff and volunteers.
“So this new award strengthens still further our determination to make golf safe as well as a highly enjoyable sport for all ages and abilities of people who are already members of our county clubs, or who decide to take up the sport in the future.
“We have almost 30 member clubs throughout Leicestershire and Rutland at present who will all welcome enquiries from interested people in their areas. It is a great game which can often lead to a lifetime of enjoyment and interest over many years.”