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  • Samaritans Free to call, any time, for anyone struggling. Call 116 123
  • Prefer to text? Free and confidential, any time. Text SHOUT to 85258
  • NHS 111 in England and Wales Choose option 2 for mental health. Free, 24 hours a day. Call 111
  • NHS 24 in Scotland Choose the mental health option. Free, 24 hours a day. Call 111
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Back to Steps for your club

Get your club's leadership on board

The people who run the club agree that mental health matters, and commit to working through these steps.

This step is about getting that agreement, on record, and making the Florio Club Commitment. For a lot of clubs, this is the biggest hurdle, so this page gives you what you need to raise it.

Jump to the game plan

Why it matters

  1. People take their lead from the top.

    When leaders back mental health openly, staff and volunteers feel they have permission to act.

  2. It lasts when the committee changes.

    Work that the leadership is behind is far more likely to last when committees change.

  3. Guidance puts it first.

    Workplace guidance, including Thriving at Work and NICE's guidance on mental wellbeing at work, puts leadership commitment first.

What good looks like

  • The committee, board or owner has agreed to support the club's mental health work, and the decision is recorded.

  • The club has made the Florio Club Commitment.

  • Members, staff and volunteers know the club's leadership is behind it.

  • Mental health comes back on the agenda regularly, not just once.

  • The commitment carries on when the committee changes.

How to raise it

Bring our one-page committee briefing to the meeting. It explains what you're asking for, why, and what it involves. It also has suggested wording for the minutes.

Committee briefingOne page
  1. 01What you're asking for
  2. 02Why
  3. 03What it involves
  4. 04Suggested wording for the minutes

Questions committees often ask

"We're a golf club, not a mental health service."

That's right, and nobody's asking you to become one. This is about the things clubs already do well, like welcoming people and looking out for each other, plus knowing where to point someone if they need help. The professional support stays with the professionals.

"Members won't want it."

Most of it happens in the background: a plan, a named contact, a poster in the locker room. Nobody is asked to talk about anything they don't want to. Many members will be glad to know the club cares, even if they never need it.

"We don't have time."

The steps are designed for clubs run by volunteers, and you work through them at your own pace, in any order.

"What if we get it wrong, or something goes wrong?"

Having a plan makes that less likely. The bigger risk is having no plan when something happens. The free resources include a response plan and guidance developed with Florio's clinical advisers.

"What will it cost?"

The toolkit, the Commitment and the templates are all free. Clubs that want more support can join the Partner Club programme for £200 a year, but they don't have to.

A golfer on a quiet course

Start with

Raise it at your next committee or board meeting, agree it, and make the Florio Club Commitment. At owner-run clubs, the owner or general manager can make the decision directly.

Make the commitment  Download the committee briefing Coming soon

Going further

  • Name a senior sponsor

    To back your Mental Health Lead (step 2).

  • Tell members and staff

    Through the newsletter, the AGM or a post.

  • Make it a regular agenda item

    So it doesn't drop off when the committee changes.

  • Include it in your development plan

    If your club has one.

Resources for this step

Committee briefingFreeOne pageComing soon
Suggested wording for the minutesFreeTemplateComing soon
Announcement for membersFreeTemplateComing soon
TrainingPartner ClubReady-made campaignsPartner ClubPrinted materialsPartner ClubResources tailored to your clubPartner Club

These ten steps are what clubs commit to when they make the free Florio Club Commitment.

Commit to working through them at your own pace, and join a growing movement across the golf community to improve mental health in the game.

Make the commitment

Need help now?

If life's at risk Call 999

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Need help now?

  • If life's at risk When there's immediate danger to life. Call 999
  • Samaritans Free to call, any time, for anyone struggling. Call 116 123
  • Prefer to text? Free and confidential, any time. Text SHOUT to 85258
  • NHS 111 in England and Wales Choose option 2 for mental health. Free, 24 hours a day. Call 111
  • NHS 24 in Scotland Choose the mental health option. Free, 24 hours a day. Call 111
Get help