Clubmark newsletter - July 2009
Clubmark a real success story!
I have been fortunate to have been involved with Clubmark since 2006 when
there were just 1,250 accredited clubs (and most of those were cricket
clubs!)
This is my last editorial as I will soon be leaving Sport England to embark
on a new chapter of my career and so I would like to take this opportunity to
celebrate the scheme’s growth and development over the last four years.
The personal highlight for me has got to be reaching 5,000 accredited clubs
at the start of this year – so many high quality sports clubs opening their
doors to young people providing safe and welcoming environments for them to
enjoy sport. These clubs will vouch for the benefits that Clubmark brings –
financial rewards, increased membership, more school-club links, the development
of coaches and other volunteers... the list is endless!
This key milestone would not have been possible without the commitment and
support of licensed organisations – so thank you. We now have 48 licensed NGBs
and CSPs and you can read more about the latest four CSPs to receive a licence
in the article below.
The recent surge in licensed CSPs is a fantastic
development - it widens the range of sports clubs that can get accredited.
This month, we record 5,248 Clubmark accredited clubs across 45 sports
covering the whole spectrum ... the bigger sports such as swimming, rugby and
gymnastics, up and coming sports like dance and handball... as well as more
niche activities such as octopush, American football and ten pin bowling.
There is no doubt that a key contributor to the success of Clubmark is the
fact that it is a robust, high quality, defensible scheme. And this is my
opportunity to thank KKP for doing such a solid job in rolling out the ‘Clubmark
process’. Clare MacLeod and her team have shown such enthusiasm and dedication
in supporting NGBs and CSPs to support their local clubs.
And so, as I leave Clubmark in such safe hands, I would like to thank each
and every one of you for your valuable contributions and I look forward to
keeping abreast of developments through future editions of the newsletter!
Phil Veasey
Sport England
News
Sport England has recently awarded Clubmark licences to
another four CSPs - taking the total number of licensed bodies to 48!.
The English Golf Union (EGU) and English Women's Golf
Association (EWGA) are delighted to advise that Shrewsbury Golf Club in
Shropshire is the 200th club to be accredited with the prestigious
Clubmark/GolfMark Award.
The Mavericks wheelchair Basketball Club has been awarded Clubmark
Accreditation. The club worked very closely with the Greater Manchester Sport
Partnership, Club Development Manager, Jan Doyle in working towards Clubmark
Accreditation.
More aquatic clubs have shown they are providing the best
environment for all by successfully receiving Clubmark/swim21 accreditation from
the ASA, the national governing body involved in every element of swimming.
A new purpose-built judo facility at Medway Park has recently opened its
doors to judo enthusiasts in North Kent and provides a new home for Clubmark
club - Medway Park Judo Club.
Case Studies
The Club was keen to get accredited in the hope that this would
lead to increased water time for squad training & increased swimmer numbers
and performance. To achieve this, it recognised the need for...
Realising financial reward from Clubmark
Prior to achieving Clubmark, the club commented that the main
obstacle to their further development was having a large enough and suitably
qualified workforce. Simply achieving Clubmark status has helped them to attract
further volunteers to the club, but their situation has been helped by financial
incentives from England Basketball.
Spotlight on
Paula Hodgson is Honorary Secretary for York City Baths Club.
Her remit includes dealing with correspondence, arranging committee meetings,
taking minutes and ensuring the club runs smoothly by communicating effectively
to all sections of the club.
Prior to being secretary, she held the role of Teaching Co-ordinator on the
committee for two years.
Victoria Humphrey is one of the Junior coaches, joint junior
secretary and joint junior treasurer of Hornets netball club based in
Bexleyheath in Kent / South East London.
She is a very reliable role model involved with amongst other things,
membership administration, dealing with correspondence and health and safety.
Jane Clayton is a founder member, committee member and senior coach of
Mallard Fencing Club, Herne Bay, Kent. Mallard Fencing Club evolved some
twenty-six years ago from Canterbury Fencing Club, which was then an adult
evening class and as such ran only during term times. A group of members, keen
to develop fencing and ensure its future in the area decided to form their own
club that would be able to operate independently and offer all-year-round
fencing to a wider membership, including juniors.
Spotlight
on... Chris Standen
After attending the "at the Heart of Golf" conference at
Newmarket in February 2009, I appreciated the true value that having GolfMark
would offer Saffron Walden Golf Club.....
Did you know...
... we have improved the Clubmark criteris for sports equity and
ethics?
It is important in sport, as elsewhere, that everyone has equal status and
opportunities. Being accessible is about making opportunity available (as
players, performers, administrators, officials or coaches) to all members of the
community.
Clubmark clubs are committed to ensuring that they are accessible to the
local community, taking into account their local circumstances. The importance
of clubs in promoting sports equity and equal opportunities cannot be
underestimated.
Revised Clubmark criteria for this aspect (now entitled Knowing
your club and its community) is being introduced via the licensed NGBs and
CSPs to help clubs take practical and relevant steps to be more accessible. This
will help clubs recruit and retain members from all sections of its community.
What has changed?
The key difference is that it is no longer essential for a club to attend ‘A
club for all' workshop'. The club now has to produce an Equity Action Plan.
This should be a short summary of how to recruit and retain members based on
fairness and can be either separate or part of the overall club development
plan. The club can still send people on the course as it is an excellent support
opportunity.
Equity in your coaching is still a requirement for coaches but we will be
introducing equity tasks which will be a requirement for all coaches to
complete. These tasks will be based on practical application of understanding
accessibility.
Why have the changes been introduced?
There are a number of reasons, but the main factors are:
- in response to club feedback that it can be difficult to access appropriate
courses that can hold up the Clubmark process.
- the Clubmark advisory group felt that the courses were not producing
tangible outcomes and were considered by some to be a ‘tick box' exercise.
The new methods will ensure that support and information is more accessible
(new online learning opportunities coming soon), results can be evidenced to an
increase in participation leading to more sustainable clubs.
What do I need to do now?
If you are a licensed NGB/CSP officer, you need to take
responsibility for communication to clubs, information is being cascaded down
from the National lead officer and is available on the Clubmark
website. You may also need to be prepared to answer queries from clubs and
support them in drawing up appropriate actions.
If you are an accredited club, you do not have to take any
action now. However, we advise that, you introduce the action plan as part of
the annual health check. This will ensure that you are prepared for
re-accreditation and may also increase your membership.
If you are actively working towards Clubmark, you need to
check with your licensing organisation to find out when they will be
implementing the new criteria.
For more information, go to the Clubmark
website.
Summary of accredited clubs
Congratulations to the clubs accredited in May and June...
Bathampton Angling Assoc, Peterborough & District Disabled AS, Leconfield
BC, Leconfield Junior, London Feltham Warriors, Bolton Lads and Girls Club,
Bedfordshire DanceSport club, South Cerney OEC, Frome Canoe Club, Seapoint Canoe
Club, New Farnley CC, Basildon & Pitsea CC, Berkswell CC, Halberton &
Sampford Peverell CC, Newcastle CC, Stoke Gabriel CC, Backworth CC, Cropston CC,
Syston Town CC, Cottingham CC, Darlington Golf Club, Stockwood Park Golf Club,
Alfreton Golf Club, Knebworth Golf Club, North Shore Golf Club, Diss Golf Club,
Moseley Golf Club, Redbourn Golf Club, Saffron Walden Golf Club, Pachesham Park
Golf Club, Kingsdown Golf Club, Barnham Broom Golf & Country Club, Milton
Keynes Gym, Reading Trampoline Club, Smartac Gym Club, Enfield Gymnastic Club,
Epping Forest Elite Gym Club, Okehampton MHC, Lutterworth HC, Towcester HC,
Okehampton Columbines LHC, Nuneaton Ladies HC, City of Peterborough HC,
Christchurch Ladies HC, Dereham HC, Timperley HC, Amersham & Chalfont HC,
Yeovil & Sherborne HC, Buckingham Ladies HC, Milton Keynes Ladies HC, Oxton
HC, Aldershot & Farnham HC, Bicester HC, Salford City Reds, Widnes Vikings,
Hunslet Hawks RLFC, Workington Town NL2, Sheffield Eagles RLFC, Plymouth ARC,
Minchinhampton RFC, Portsmouth RFC, Parkonians RUFC, Cockermouth RUFC, Spalding
RFC, Hove RFC, Wells RFC, Penzance & Newlyn RFC, Wisbech SC ( Skill
Development,Swimming), Aylsham Vikings SC (Skill Development,Swimming), Beacon
SC (Skill Development,Swimming), Borough of Kirklees Synchronised Swim Squad
(Teaching,Synchro, Bristol Henleaze SC (Skill Development,Swimming), Bristol
Henleaze SC (Teaching,Swimming), City of Chester SC (Teaching,Water Polo), City
of Lincoln Pentaqua SC (Skill Development,Swimming), City of Manchester Aquatics
SC (Competitive Development,Swimm, City of St Albans SC (Skill
Development,Swimming), City of St Albans SC (Teaching,Swimming), Crediton &
District SC (Skill Development,Swimming), Croydon Amphibians SC (Skill
Development,Swimming), Croydon Amphibians SC (Skill Development,Water Polo),
Croydon Amphibians SC (Teaching,Swimming), Croydon Amphibians SC(Teaching,Water
Polo), Dagenham SC (Teaching,Swimming), Daventry Dolphins SC (Skill
Development,Swimming), Greenwich Borough Mariners SC (Skill
Development,Swimming), Letchworth ASC (Teaching,Swimming), Oadby & Wigston
SC (Teaching,Swimming), Selby Tigersharks SC (Teaching,Swimming), Skipton ASC
(Skill Development,Swimming), South Derbyshire WPC (Teaching,Water Polo),
Stowmarket SC (Teaching,Swimming), Tiverton SC (Skill Development,Swimming),
Tiverton SC (Teaching,Swimming), Trafford Synchronised SC (Competitive
Development,Synchro), Wandsworth SC (Skill Development,Swimming), Wandsworth SC
(Teaching,Swimming), Tynedale Volleyball Club, East Cornwall Harriers, Avenue
Badminton Club, Avenue Junior, Kingston Wildcats School of Basketball, Leicester
Warriors, Morpeth Paddlesport Club, Wansbeck Paddle Sports Club, Copeland Canoe
Club, Stonehenge and Pewsey Canoed Club, Holme Pierrepont Canoe Club, Cambridge
Canoe Club, Winchester and District Canoe Club, Copford CC, Sidmouth CC, West
Ilsley CC, Perranporth CC, Exhall & Wixford CC, Pocklington CC, Bexhill CC,
Didcot CC, Hollingbourne CC, St Andrews (Burgess Hill) CC, Belvedere CC, Kent,
Barnton CC, Brockley CC, Percy Main CC, Thorverton CC, Lutterworth CC, Chartham
Park Golf Club, Leighton Buzzard Golf Club, Pike Hills Golf Club, Chippenham,
Alnmouth Golf Club, Dainton Park Golf Club, Farrington Golf Club, Leigh Golf
Club, Vicars Cross Golf Club, Kings Norton Golf Club, Winslow Judo Club, Wrekin
Star Judo Club, Burnley Judo Club, Heaton Mersey LC, Leeds LC, Bristol LC,
Nottingham LC, Peterborough Netball Club Juniors, Team Northumbria Superleague
NC, Brackley YPG, Toucans NC, Rbwm Netball Partnership Club, Rushmoor NC,
Chiltern Girls Netball Club, Carlisle NC, Dudley Road Hospital NC, Medway
Dragons, Aylesford Bulls RFC, Bradford & Bingley RFC, Bromyard RFC, Trentham
RUFC.
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