Support for families

Under the policy, employees of The Bridgedown Group will be supported to take leave from work to be present in hospital when their child is seriously ill. This includes job protection and financial security during what is often the most traumatic period of a family’s life.

The Bridgedown Group owns The Shire London, The Inspiration, The West London Golf Centre and the upcoming Legacy Club.

The story behind Hugh’s Law

Hugh’s Law is the result of more than three years of campaigning by Ceri Menai Davis, Director of The Bridgedown Group, following the death of his son Hugh in 2021. Hugh was six years old and had spent ten months battling a rare form of cancer.

Ceri Menai Davis, a former recipient of the PGA Tony Sunderland Award, has since led a national campaign calling for statutory protections for working parents when a child becomes critically ill.

His work has involved extensive engagement with Parliament, ministers and employers, arguing that work should never add pressure during a medical crisis.

Growing national recognition

As a result of the campaign, Hugh’s Law has now been formally named in the forthcoming Carer’s Leave Review, with a dedicated chapter confirmed in the House of Commons.

This followed an amendment tabled in the House of Lords in July 2025 by Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson which, although unsuccessful, significantly advanced parliamentary debate on the issue.

The policy proposes that parents of critically ill children should be entitled to up to 12 weeks of paid leave at the statutory leave rate. Leave would be taken in defined blocks and supported by medical confirmation, offering clarity for employers and certainty for families.

Golf leads by example

The Bridgedown Group’s decision follows a recent announcement by Brentford FC, which confirmed it has incorporated the principles of Hugh’s Law into its own staff leave policies.

Managing Director Tony Menai Davis said the move reflected both compassion and good business practice.

“When a child is critically ill, nothing else matters. No parent should be worrying about their pay, their job or whether they will be penalised for being where they need to be.

By adopting the principles of Hugh’s Law, the group is showing that compassion, clarity and good business can go hand in hand.

“The work and time that Ceri and Frances have committed to campaigning for this in honour of my grandson Hugh is inspirational and we hope we are the first of many clubs to adopt these principles.”

A wider movement

The adoption of Hugh’s Law principles reflects a growing movement among UK employers who are choosing to act ahead of legislation. Many now recognise that structured, time limited support for parents is both humane and operationally workable.

More information about the campaign can be found at www.hughslaw.uk.

About Hugh’s Law

Hugh’s Law was founded in memory of six year old Hugh Menai Davis, who died from rhabdomyosarcoma in 2021.

After Hugh’s death, his parents Ceri and Frances Menai Davis set up the charity It’s Never You after experiencing first hand the lack of support available to parents when a child becomes critically ill.

Over the past three years the campaign has pushed for change in Parliament, leading to debates, amendments and formal recognition within a Government review.

Hugh’s Law aims to ensure parents are supported rather than abandoned when their child’s life is on the line.

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Golf courses across the country are being called upon to show their support for children battling cancer by turning their 18th flags gold and orange during the month of September.

The initiative is being led by ‘It’s Never You’, a charity established by Ceri Menai-Davis and his wife Frances in memory of their late son Hugh, who sadly lost his life aged 6 to rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2021.

Childhood cancer affects approximately 2,000 children each year in the UK, and it is the leading cause of death among children. Sadly, around 240 children a year aged 0-14 lose their lives to this devastating disease.

To show their support, golf clubs are requested to fly gold and orange flags on their 18th holes while conducting medal or Stableford competitions. Additionally, golf clubs are invited to either organise a new competition dedicated to the cause or incorporate the ‘It’s Never You appeal’ into an already scheduled event.

This initiative is part of a wider campaign to raise awareness of childhood cancer and to raise funds to support the parents of children with cancer via the charity’s exclusive social media platform “The Children’s Cancer Platform”.

Ceri Menai Davis, a fellow director of the Bridgedown Golf Group, which includes The Shire London, West London Golf Centre, and the upcoming Legacy Club designed by European Golf Design, the Golf Course Design Company of the European Tour Group. With their many ties in the golf industry, the family find their charity initiative being backed by golf legend Colin Montgomerie.

Montgomerie, an eight-time European Order of Merit winner said: “cancer knows no bounds, and when it affects a child, it shatters the world of the child and their family. This September, join me in supporting the ‘It’s Never You’ charity, as they strive to raise awareness for childhood cancer and the immense toll it takes on their parents.”

Co-founder of ‘It’s Never You’, Ceri Menai-Davis said: “We want to raise awareness for childhood cancer and the toll it takes on their parents and show our support for those affected. By turning their 18th flags gold and orange, golf clubs can help us do just that. If they can raise funds to support the parents who look after that would be a bonus.”

Recently Ceri and the YouTube golf sensation Rick Shiels ran the London Marathon together for ‘It’s Never You’ to highlight awareness and raise much needed money for the families.

‘It’s Never You’ is committed to making a difference in the lives of parents and their families affected by this devastating disease.

For more information on ‘It’s Never You’, how to get involved, and where to purchase the flags, please visit the website at www.itsneveryou.com

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