Kate and Justin Rose-backed golf project reaches 2,300-child milestone

The JOLF Nurture Project has reached more than 2,300 children across Mid Sussex since launching in January, with the programme set to return in 2027 following continued backing from the Kate & Justin Rose Foundation.

The initiative, which uses golf and play to develop confidence, resilience, communication and emotional wellbeing, has delivered free sessions in 44 schools, alongside 10 JOLF in the Park events during the summer holidays.

Each participating school received five weeks of half-day sessions, allowing JOLF coaches to work consistently with children who could benefit from additional support.

Neil Plimmer, founder of JOLF, said the programme had demonstrated how golf could be used beyond the traditional sporting environment.

“We created JOLF to engage children and families in the game of golf, but it became clear that our programmes can do so much more than that,” he said.

“The JOLF Nurture Project is a small-group programme designed for children who would benefit from additional support with confidence, communication, emotional wellbeing, resilience and positive relationships.”

The impact has also been noticed in the classroom. Claire Batchelor, SEND Co-Ordinator at Lindfield Primary Academy, said pupils had begun transferring skills developed during the sessions into their school day.

She highlighted the example of a Year 4 pupil who had previously struggled with making mistakes but had learned to respond differently through the programme.

“He dealt with it like a pro and said to us that it was OK because you just try, try, try like at JOLF,” Batchelor said.

The summer JOLF in the Park programme extended the project into public spaces, with 12 ‘Crazy JOLF’ holes created in parks across Mid Sussex. The free events were open to children and families of all ages and attracted both existing participants and new players.

According to Plimmer, the events also helped bring families and members of local communities together.

The Kate & Justin Rose Foundation will now fund the Nurture Project for a further year, with the 2027 programme set to expand into schools in Worthing.

Kate Rose, Chair of the Foundation, said the project reflected its aim of using golf to create wider social benefits.

“The JOLF Nurture Project realises our ambitions to use golf as a vehicle for change,” she said. “We are delighted to continue funding the programme into 2027.”

The Foundation has also released a video from one of this summer’s JOLF in the Park events, showcasing the project and its participants.