Club accreditation

Our Sports Development Unit has developed a local accreditation scheme.

What is the scheme about?

• The scheme provides a cross-sport recognition for sports clubs that are committed to providing a safe, effective and child friendly environment.
• It is designed to assist new and existing clubs to develop, improve and promote the way they operate.
• It will also help clubs in their quest to achieve their own National Governing Body (NGB) accreditation schemes or Sport England’s Clubmark award.
• Accreditation will be renewed bi-annually, April and October

What are the benefits for sports clubs?

Any Plymouth based club that has achieved club accreditation will be eligible to receive a discount towards the cost of workshops and courses organised by the Sports Development Unit.

By achieving club accreditation a club will gain public recognition and be able to promote itself as a well run club.

Clubs will be able to demonstrate to parents/carers that they have a full understanding of child protection issues that implement best practice, and have an inclusive and equitable approach to all.

Through improved policies and procedures they will also be able to provide quality activities that give young people the opportunity to develop within their chosen sport, which in return will increase membership and encourage lifelong participation.

With structured club development plans, clubs will be able to support the personal development of their coaches and volunteers and identify and obtain additional funding.

How does a sports club apply?

The scheme is free of charge and clubs can apply by completing a self-assessment form and providing the necessary supporting evidence (see documents table below).

There are two levels of accreditation - good practice and club development and clubs will be expected to achieve good practice accreditation before moving on to club development accreditation.

Staff from the Sports Development Unit will support any clubs during the application process, if required.

What happens next?

• Applications will be considered twice a year - April and October.
• Clubs will be identified as having achieved either good practice or club development accreditation.
• Clubs will be able to promote this accreditation locally by displaying a certificate and using the relevant accreditation logo on their club literature and promotional materials etc.
• The Sports Development Unit will then work with successful clubs to help them gain NGB accreditation or Sport England’s Clubmark award.

Sport England - Clubmark

What is accreditation?

Sport England’s Clubmark is a cross-sport accreditation scheme for sports clubs with junior sections in recognition of a quality club. Some sports have developed their own accreditation schemes based on Clubmark

Sport England has worked with the national governing bodies of sport (NGB’s) to give a co-ordinated approach to club accreditation that ensures clubs meet a set standard in the following categories:

The playing programme

This section covers the key elements deemed important in creating a quality playing programme for young people in your club. It identifies general issues associated with a well planned coaching and competition programme.

Duty of care and child protection

This section focuses on ensuring clubs give serious consideration to any activity or event for which they are responsible for and to ensure that all participants can take part in a safe, child friendly and secure environment.

It is important for club members to attend:

• sports coach UK (SCUK) good practice
• child protection or NGB equivalent
• first aid course

Sports equity and ethics

This section aims to help clubs put in place policies and practices that encourage all members to adopt an inclusive and child friendly approach making opportunities available to all.

To assist clubs in adopting this approach two training courses have been identified for clubs to attend:

• A club for all
• Equity in coaching

Club management

Clubs which are well managed tend to be clubs that are sustainable in the long term. These clubs have committees in place, the volunteers and members of the club are kept informed and regularly updated via news bulletins and promotional material. Well managed clubs also look at opportunities to link with local schools, governing bodies and sports development officers.

The following templates are available to download from the Sport England website:

• codes of conduct for club officials and volunteers
• risk assessment forms
• guidelines for dealing with an incident/accident
• incident/accident report forms
• register of attendance
• junior membership form
• committee job descriptions
• sport action plans
• guidelines to developing an action plan
• school - club link agreement
• volunteer agreement forms
• introductory letter to parents/carers
• equity policy statement
• constitution
• code of conduct for parents/carers and other supporters
• code of conduct for junior members

Documents

To view these documents you might need to download some software. Visit our downloads page for more information.

	Club accreditation scheme - form to complete your club's membership details. File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 27.4KB
	Evidence checklist - form to complete club requirements. File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 42.3KB
	Club directory - form to complete on club activity details. File format Adobe Acrobat (pdf) - 195.4KB

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