Action for Children will be the official charity for the Barclays Scottish Open Championship, to be played at Castle Stuart Golf Links near Inverness from July 7-10, 2011.
In this year’s initiative, Barclays Capital will donate £10 for every birdie, £50 for every eagle and £100 for every albatross scored during the 72 holes of the Championship, which brings many of the world’s leading players to the north of Scotland for the first time.
With an average figure of around 1500 birdies and 35 eagles per tournament to date on The European Tour’s Race to Dubai in 2011, the Barclays Scottish Open initiative could raise up to £20,000 for Action for Children Scotland, one of the country’s leading children’s charities, supporting over 8000 vulnerable children across 62 services.
The public and supporters of Action for Children will also be able to make a charitable contribution through Barclays’ initiative by completing a pledge form and making a donation from as little as one pence per birdie.
Other fundraising taking place includes a silent auction in the hospitality units supported by the sponsors and partners of the event and The European Tour’s charitable arm, The Tour Players Foundation (TPF), who have donated a variety of sports, lifestyle and entertainment auction lots. The TPF will also make a further donation of funds to Action for Children to add to the total amount raised.
In the Highlands alone, Action for Children have ten services running concurrently in Inverness (2), Nairn, Forres, Alness & Dingwall, Elgin, Lochaber, Buckie & Aberdeen. The charity also has Gael Og Intensive Support service based in Inverness, fostering services and street football which is an ingenious way of attracting young people to come and seek help and consequently leading to an intensive mentoring service.
Action for Children’s first Inverness family project began 25 years ago and nationally the charity is a leading voice in shaping children’s welfare policy in Scottish Government and Westminster.
Working with the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, abused, neglected children, young people AND their families, Action for Children enjoys the patronage of many high profile celebrities from the world of entertainment, sport and business, including Dame Judi Dench and Scot Duncan Bannatyne from BBC TV’s Dragon’s Den.
Simon Eaton, Managing Director and member of the Charities Committee at Barclays Capital, said: “We are delighted to partner with Action for Children at this year’s Barclays Scottish Open. In line with our community investment strategy we are committed to helping and giving back to those communities in which we live and work. Action for Children’s local initiatives offer support for some of the most vulnerable and neglected children in the Highlands and this tournament provides a great opportunity to support their work.”
Peter Adams, Championship Director for the Barclays Scottish Open, commented: “The European Tour and Barclays Capital are delighted to support such a worthy cause in Action for Children Scotland. Given favourable weather conditions during tournament week, and appreciating the wonderful skills of the best golfers in the world, we are confident of raising a substantial sum of money to help the great work carried out by the charity throughout Scotland, and the Highlands in particular.”
Hilary Canto, Action for Children’s Fundraiser for Scotland North and East, said: “Action for Children Scotland is delighted to have been appointed the Official Charity for the Barclays Scottish Open. We are reliant on local support to help deliver our services to children and young people across the Highlands of Scotland. The generosity of Barclays Capital, The European Tour, the players and golfing fraternity will make a significant contribution to raising awareness of the work we do, and the funds raised will continue to help the most vulnerable, disadvantaged, neglected children and their families.”
About Action for Children
• Action for Children Scotland is one of the leading children's charities in Scotland. We support over 8000 of the most vulnerable children, young people and their families at 62 projects across Scotland so that they have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
• Action for Children works with the most vulnerable and neglected children and young people: whose families need support; are in care; who are disabled; who experience severe difficulties in their lives
• Children are at the centre of everything Action for Children does. For more information on our work, please visitwww.actionforchildren.org.uk
About the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open
All four days of the Barclays Scottish Open will be broadcast live on both BBC Television (July 9 and 10) and Sky Sports (July 7 and 8) with extensive highlights on both channels.
Advance tickets are now on sale for the 2011 Barclays Scottish Open – for full details of ticket offers and other events on The European Tour, please visitwww.europeantourtickets.comor telephone the Ticket Hotline: +44 (0) 800 023 2557; fax +44 141 887 0223. Please send postal enquiries to European Tour Tickets, Mirren Court Three, 123 Renfrew Court Three, Paisley, PA3 4EA.
