Clubmark


clubmark

The Clubmark symbol is used as a kite mark - allowing parents the knowledge and confidence that their children are attending a safe, quality club and ensuring that young people reach their full sporting potential. For clubs with junior sections, being registered with Clubmark is an effective way of communicating commitment to good practice, safe procedures and quality coaching.

The scheme provides a set of standard criteria, which allow clubs to evaluate where they are and help develop the club infrastructure as well as other areas such as volunteering, membership and recruitment. Clubs are assessed against four areas - Playing Programme; Duty of Care and Safeguarding Children; Knowing Your Club and its Community; Club Management.

Is your club eligible?

All sports that are recognised by Sport England can become acredited with Clubmark. There are 2 ways to attain accreditation:

1. Via National Governing Body - Some National Govering Bodies of Sport (NGBs) have created their own version of clubmark. Check Clubmark's list of current licensed NGBs - if your sport falls into this category, you will need to contact your NGB to find out how your club can get involved.

2. Via Sport Hampshire & IOW - sports that are not listed in Option 1 above but has a Sport England recognised NGB can apply for Clubmark via Sport Hampshire & IOW.

Benefits for clubs

  • Increased membership: Being able to demonstrate that you have addressed issues such as equity and child protection gives confidence to parents when choosing a club for their children.
  • Retaining members: Clubmark helps to stimulate real thought about how clubs cater for all their members. The culture it promotes boosts the morale of both players and volunteers.
  • Funding: Many funding bodies now state that applicants must be Clubmark accredited or at least working towards.
  • Developing your coaches and volunteers: As part of the accreditation scheme, you'll be given help and advice in developing the skills of everyone involved in your club.
  • Raising your club's profile: Once accredited, your club will be listed on the national database and in other sporting directories that will help you attract new members and to grow.
  • Marketing and promotion: All clubmark clubs can utilise the Clubmark logo and take advantage of other brand resourcesas well as information to help generate more publicity.
  • Links with schools: Increasingly, schools are looking for guarantees of quality and the presence of child friendly systems and procedures. Clubmark clubs are normally the first to be invited to work with local schools.
  • Developing your club: The foundation for any club is its youth structure. So, by encouraging and attracting young members, you are building a strong future for your club.

Accredited clubs

The national Clubmark database lists all accredited clubs, as well as clubs working towards accreditation.