Tag: Tony Roche

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NEWS: Bagot Arms Golf Society Raises £5200 for Castle Vale based charity Spitfire Services

Words by Tony Roche, pics supplied by Bagot Arms Golf Society

In a heartwarming display of community spirit, the Bagot Arms Golf Society recently organised a charity golf day that raised an impressive £5,200 for local charity Spitfire Services.

The fundraising sporting event also featured a raffle, auction, and gathered generous donations from club members, contributors, friends, and sponsors.

Spitfire Services, a charity based on Castle Vale, was established in 2002 and supports people facing hardship, isolation, and offers advice and guidance over finances.

The charity also operates several facilities on the Vale, including the Upcycle showroom and Castle Vale Library, and provides essential food bank services to communities in Castle Vale, Erdington, Pype Hayes, and Tyburn – assisting the vulnerable and needy during these challenging times of the cost of living crisis.

Jane Roche, Operations Manager for Spitfire Services, extended her heartfelt gratitude to the Bagot Arms Golf Society and all those involved in the charity golf day that raised £5,200 for the organisation.

Jane emphasised the critical role that community support plays in enabling Spitfire Services to continue their mission of helping those in need, particularly during challenging times.

She told: “The generosity and solidarity displayed by the Bagot Arms Golf Society and its supporters stand as a testament to the strength of community bonds and the commitment to aiding those in need.

“In these challenging times, acts of kindness like these serve as beacons of hope and compassion for all.”

Established in 2009 and originally based at the Bagot Arms public house in Pype Hayes, the Bagot Arms Golf Society has transcended the loss of its iconic venue – which has now been demolished after a fire destroyed the roof and building – and continues to serve as a beacon of community unity on the golf course, fostering friendship and camaraderie among its members.

The club also has a rich history of fundraising for charities noble causes such as Cancer Research, The Make a Wish Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Research, and Help for Heroes.

Click here to read about the Bagot Gold Society’s previous fundraising for men’s mental health charity ‘It Takes Balls to Talk’. 

Reflecting on the success of the recent charity golf day, Bagot Arms Golf Society club secretary Jason Wellings expressed gratitude to all involved, emphasising the lasting impact of their collective contribution.

He told: “The awareness raised about the importance of food banks in our community is invaluable, and we urge local businesses and residents to continue supporting Spitfire Services in their crucial mission.”

For more on the Bagot Arms Golf Society visit: www.bagotarmsgs.com

For more on Spitfire Services visit www.spitfireservices.org.uk

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NEWS: Bagot Arms Golf Society hope to raise over £5000 for men’s mental health charity

Words & pics by Liam Smith

Preparations are being made by the Bagot Arms Golf Society ahead of their charity golf day on 21 July 2023, where organisers hope to raise over £5000 for a men’s mental health charity.

The event, which is taking place at Bromsgrove Golf Centre in Worcestershire, is in support of ‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ – a nationwide campaign ‘which uses sporting themes to encourage people, particularly men, to talk about how they feel.’

According to the charity’s website, 5% of men in the UK are suffering from one of the common mental health disorders, for example anxiety or depression. The website further states suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst males aged 15 to 29, and that three out of four of all suicides are men.

The Bagot Arms Golf Society, now operating out of Hollyfields Conference & Sports Centre in Pype Hayes, formed in 2009 out of the old Bagot Arms pub less than a mile away from Pype Hayes Golf Club.

The society have a history of organising and being a part of fundraising events and charity days, including a ’72 holes in one day’ challenge in aid of MacMillan which saw four members raise over £5,000 for the cancer charity.

They have also raised money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

Tony Roche, founding member of the Bagot Arms Golf Society told Erdington Local: “Mental health issues can affect anyone and can be caused by several factors. Suicide continues to be three times more common in men than in women.”

Steven Smith, also a founding member and Pype Hayes resident, told: “Since our inception in 2009, we have always felt it important that we try to raise money for charities. It is an important part of our society.

“We have a day upcoming in July, which is fully booked, with 60 golfers in attendance and all 18 holes of the course generously sponsored by local businesses.”

The society are still actively raising as much as they can as the event nears.

Steven added: “We have recently set up a JustGiving page. We set an initial target of £1,000 and we have already hit £735 and it would be great if any of your readers could help.”

The Pype Hayes golf group hope to raise over £5,000 with all the money raised from the event along with online donations. A JustGiving page can be found here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bagotarms-golfsociety

For more on the Bagot Arms Golf Society visit: www.bagotarmsgs.com

For more on the ‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ campaign visit: www.ittakesballstotalk.com