Mike Rees helping with Child Protection in all golf clubs

Junior coaching throughout Wales can benefit from the new appointment of Mike Rees helping with child protection in all golf clubs.

‘Child protection’ is a slight misnomer as the role is actually to safeguard adults as well as children – to ensure the proper safeguards are in place to allow all junior golf development to run smoothly.

Rees has a huge amount of experience for the voluntary role, both professional and personal.

He has been a policeman for 22 years in Dyfed Powys and South Wales, working in public protection, domestic abuse and various other community roles.

He also has children coming up through the junior ranks at the Grove golf club near Porthcawl, where Rees is a member and this year’s Captain.

It is a new role for Golf Development Wales, something which has always been part of other people’s duties rather than being specifically looked after by one person.

“We are looking to encourage clubs to develop their child protection policy utilising the national child protection resource ‘Safeguarding Children in Golf’ and get that running through the mainstream of golf,” he explained.

“Sometimes the words can scare people, but it is all about making sure children are safe to participate in golf as well as re-assuring volunteers by utilising good practice procedures.

“A lot of it is common sense and what people do anyway, so where people get frightened by it we just need to communicate a positive message.

“I am the first point of contact to clubs, but there is plenty of help from Golf Development Wales, the Golf Union of Wales, National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and the Sports Council for Wales.

“I have been coaching rugby and the physical contact in golf is nothing like other sports, most volunteers have nothing to be frightened of.”

Rees and Golf Development Wales can smooth the process, so all the daunting words such as CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) checks and child protection policy can become straightforward.

“People get worried about CRB checks, but it is just a question of getting the documents in place to protect the children which can be easily done through Golf Development Wales,” said Rees.

“People need to get a good training in some of the basic approaches, with a welfare officer and junior co-ordinator in the club, but there are courses you can do and we can help to make them accessible.

“The Children in Golf Partnership have produced a generic child protection policy which will cover 99 per cent of golf clubs. Golf Development Wales provide this resource free of charge to any organisation that attends the ‘Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop’.

“Up and coming dates can be found on the Golf Development Wales website. Also more information on Child Welfare along with information the ‘ Guidelines for Safeguarding Children in Golf’ can be found on www.childreningolf.org

“The Grove club were the first in Wales to be granted the Junior Golf Cert award and part of that is having a good child protection policy.

“Because of my background and enthusiasm with junior golf they asked then if I was interested in this role.

“I have children involved in junior golf and like every parent I want them to be safe. I really appreciate the people who help out and coach in their own time so it is important they are safeguarded as well.

“We want children to be able to participate with adults because the life skills they can learn in terms of the etiquette and behaviour are unique to golf.

“This is a really rewarding position that I have taken up, trying to get people to embrace it.”