A BRADFORD-based project in which golf is used to help "hard to reach" young people has won a national award.

All Teed Up Ltd works with schools across the district to encourage learning for youngsters aged 14 years and upwards, as well as aiming to boost their skill levels and personal development.

Bradford golf coach Andy Watmuff and his coaching team run the project and also receive funding help from Bradford-based social housing provider Incommunities' charitable arm, Incommunities Foundation, HSBC Golf Roots, and the Golf Foundation.

Now, all the hard work has been recognised after Mr Watmuff was presented with the Golf Foundation’s Mackenzie Award, which celebrates how golf can be used to engage with young people and boost their life skills.

The award was presented at the Wentworth Club in Surrey alongside Ryder Cup winner Nicolas Colsaerts.

“I am delighted to win such a prestigious award," said Mr Watmuff, who leads the project from Ghyll Beck driving range in Baildon. "Funding from Incommunities has been invaluable in delivering this life skills learning, which helps young people who might be struggling to learn within the school environment.

"We also had much support and involvement from Bradford Council’s sport development unit throughout the project."

He added: "This project encourages them to take another look at learning and introduce them to the disciplines of golf."

Mr Watmuff and his team run three-hour weekly sessions combining golf skills, academic work and work experience such as green keeping.

As part of their learning the young people study for a level two qualification in PE sport and work-related learning, and a level one ICT qualification. They are also provided with first aid training.

One teachers who accompanied students to the sessions said: "Over the ten-week period of the course, I saw a real improvement in the attitude of the students as well as their coping skills, anger management and ability to focus."

Jane Vincent, Incommunities Foundation chairman, said: “Congratulations to Andy and his team on this award.

“Encouraging young peoples’ life skills through the game of golf has made a real difference to boys and girls on the programme. It demonstrates how Foundation funding is changing lives and helping young people to start to think about the kind of work and training they may want to do when they leave school.”