By Henry Green
A Nottingham charity is helping people with complex learning disabilities learn to play golf.
Nottingham Mencap is a self-funded charity founded in 1950 by a small group of parents who wanted their disabled children to live independent lives.
Leonie Carter is the sports and fitness tutor at Mencap and looks after the group each week, running sessions at Norwood Park Golf Centre, in Southwell.
The group, with ages ranging from 19 to 49, will have one more session of golf before they then begin cricket training.
Leonie said: “I love teaching sport, and I have found my forte with people with teaching people with learning disabilities.
“You don’t see many people with learning disabilities on the golf course and in regard to funding, not many people get the opportunity to play golf,” she added.
“It’s possible for anybody to play any sport you just have to go down the right avenues. and that’s what we are trying to do open up as many avenues in sport for everybody.
“The group absolutely love it and all we hear all week is ‘golf on Friday, golf on Friday’ and they are all really happy and they are shouting the golf coach Peter’s name on the minibus,” Leonie said.
Michael Wyer has a learning disability and works in video editing as well as helping Leonie with the golf sessions.
Michael said: “It’s actually a good opportunity for them to come here to teach golf and learn a bit more about what golf is.
“This place is absolutely amazing and Pete [coach Peter Lockley] is amazing with people with learning difficulties, he’s so fun and he’s just amazing at what he does,” he added.
Molly Chatwin, 24, from The Meadows, has global delay, a term used when a child takes longer to reach some development milestones than other children their age. This can include in movement, learning and interacting with others.
Molly said golf is “amazing” and also plays tennis, cricket and football. She says sport is making her “happy” and allowing her to make lots of friends.
Jake Rose, 33, who also has a learning disability, said: “Golf helps because Peter’s good and we can hit the ball far away.”
The group has now completed 20 sessions and is being supported by golf coach Peter Lockley.
Peter was originally asked to help by the President of the Nottingham Golf Union, who had raised money to give people with learning disabilities a chance to play.
Peter said: “The group are clearly having fun, the noise level is good, there’s lots of smiles lots of laughs.
“To see them get so much joy from a shot that perhaps other people wouldn’t find as joyful is very humbling and it allows you to see how lucky you are,” he added.
To find out more about Nottingham Mencap’s services, you can visit their website here.
