Urban Synergy, an award-winning social mobility charity, has announced its support for golf as a sport for young people but believes it could do more to attract them. The charity’s CEO and Founder, Leila Thomas, explained that when they announced their Golf Day fundraiser last year, some people questioned the diversity of the sport. However, the event proved to be successful as 10 young people from ethnically diverse backgrounds played on the fairway with business executives from some of the UK’s largest companies. Thomas added that the event allowed the young participants to network and create valuable connections with Urban Synergy’s corporate partners.
The Golf Day not only provides an opportunity for networking and team building, but it also allows young people to learn about traditional business networking and get introduced to the sport of golf. Urban Synergy, founded in 2007, has supported over 27,000 young people to realize their full potential by providing them with relatable role models and access to mentors, further education, work opportunities, internships, and apprenticeships.
According to research by the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) and IPSOS, only 4% of on-course golfers are from ethnic minority backgrounds, despite making up 13% of the British population. Thomas believes that golf can be an expensive sport, but their programs help young people overcome barriers and connect them to well-paying work opportunities, particularly in the financial sector. She stated, “We’ve achieved this with thousands of bright individuals, and we intend to do more.”
Thomas shared the success story of four boys aged 14 who were part of the government’s London Challenge Programme in 2008 – Gavin, Kofi, Chad, and TJ. Their teachers had identified them as smart but at risk of underachievement and exclusion. Urban Synergy introduced them to relatable role models, mentors, and work experiences, and all four of them have now graduated from university and are successful professionals in their fields.
Urban Synergy’s Golf Day 2024 will take place at The Shire London, Barnet, North London on May 16, 2024. The event will see boxing legend John Conteh captaining a team for Falco Construction Limited, along with players from the London Stock Exchange Group, FTI Consulting, UK Power Networks, Willis Tower Watson, and SQS. Black British golfers will also be represented at the event.
If journalists or media crews are interested in attending the event or interviewing Urban Synergy’s CEO and Founder Leila Thomas or any of the players mentioned above, they can contact the charity’s media team. The charity aims to inspire, guide, and ignite the ambitions of students and young people aged 9-24 by connecting them to relatable role models and mentors from industry-leading companies. The Shire London, a north London golf club designed by the late Seve Ballesteros, also supports Urban Synergy’s mission of breaking down barriers in the sport by removing traditional dress codes and hosting inclusive golf events.
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.