Golfers club together to raise record amount for DofE Wales

Golfers from across Wales came together at Pennard Golf Club to compete and raise funds for Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) Wales at its annual charity golf day, sponsored by Swansea Building Society and Pure Cyber.

This year’s event saw 18 teams compete at the Pennard course – famously known as the ‘links in the sky’ – for the fundraiser, held on Monday September 26, 2022. Despite slightly challenging weather conditions, all teams completed the course with competitive scores. The event’s ultimate winners were the team from Mount Stuart Wealth Management.

The total amount raised, via entries and sponsorship, was £6,000 – a new record for the event, surpassing the previous record set at last year’s event in Langland by £2,000. The funds will go towards helping support more young people from marginalised backgrounds to access the DofE programme.

Following the competition, DofE Wales recognised the long-standing support given by the event sponsors by presenting Swansea Building Society with a Silver Associate Supporter certificate and Pure Cyber with a Bronze Associate Supporter certificate. The certificates were presented to representatives of the sponsors by Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE, Chair of DofE Wales Business Group.

DofE Wales is the Welsh office of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, a charity founded by the late Prince Philip in 1956. The DofE programme is open to 14 – 24-year-olds, with three progressive levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Each award has a number of sections to complete, involving helping the community and/or environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Any young person can do their DofE award, regardless of ability, gender, background or location. The aim of the award is to gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive.

DofE awards are also seen as enhancing young people’s CVs, with many employers and universities recognising the award in their recruitment process.

Robert Lloyd Griffiths OBE, Chair of DofE Wales Business Group, said:

“It is a great honour to recognise the amazing support that Swansea Building Society gives our charity – their kindness and generosity enables us to help many young people, often from disadvantaged backgrounds, reach their goals and become resilient and confident members of society. Swansea Building Society helps us make a difference in these tough economic times; we are so grateful to have partnered with such an outstanding Welsh Business – long may that continue.”

Ieuan Griffiths, Chair, Swansea Building Society, said:

“We are delighted to have again sponsored the DofE Wales annual charity golf day – this year held at the stunning links in the sky course at Pennard. The event raised more funds than ever before for the charity, and we were very proud to have been presented with our Silver Associate certificate as a mark of our ongoing support for the charity.

“DofE Wales is an important organisation giving great opportunities and experiences to young people from all backgrounds across the country. It allows young people to learn vital life skills and grow in confidence and experience throughout the programme. The funds raised at the event will mean that even more young people, from all backgrounds and abilities, will be able to take part in an experience that they can look back on with pride in later years.”