Clubmark is the universally acknowledged cross sport accreditation scheme for community sports Clubs.
It stands for:
- Higher standards of welfare, equity, coaching and management in community sports clubs.
- Making sure the nation’s sports club infrastructure is safer, stronger and more successful.
- Ensuring clubs provide the right environment to encourage all its members to enjoy sport and stay involved throughout their lives.
An accredited Club is recognised as a safe, rewarding and fulfilling place for participants of all ages as well as helping parents and carers know that they’re choosing the right Club for their young people.
What are the benefits of Clubmark?
Clubmark is a development journey, not an end result. It helps clubs ‘get themselves in order’ using our best practice framework.
The benefits are defined in the following ways:
- The development of clear goals and objectives that can be communicated to all club members and the wider community, demonstrating the club’s ambition for the future to grow and/or improve.
- The analysis of the current workforce ensures all training is up to date and the club is operating at its best.
- Adopting organised systems and structures will help the club run more efficiently and effectively.
- Addressing issues such as equity, child protection and adult safeguarding should increase potential new member confidence.
- Updating policies, training and systems shows confidence and increased productivity within the club. This in turn attracts schools and local authorities.
- The development of a clear club strategy to recruit new members.
- Members can be sure their club is a well-managed club, striving to offer the best in coaching and sports development.
What does it involve?
Clubmark is based on four key areas of club development:
- Activity / Playing Programme
This section looks at the opportunities a club provides, when it is providing them and how and by whom they are being delivered. Clubs are asked to think about how their session engages new members and are inclusive to all. It also ensures that the people running activities are suitably trained and qualified. - Duty of Care and Welfare
It is the duty of every club to take steps to ensure that members, volunteers, and visitors can enjoy the opportunities offered by the club in a safe environment. This section encourages clubs to meet minimum best practice standards in these areas. Duty of Care and Welfare covers everything from identifying a Welfare Officer who is there to support club members, to completing risk assessments and demonstrating reporting processes. - Knowing your Club and Community
This section is all about the culture of a club. It is important to promote the right culture so that the policies, practices and ethos encourage all members to adopt an inclusive, friendly approach to sport. This section focuses on knowing the club’s members, what they like, how they want to get information from the club and what they want for the future of the club, as well as getting to know the community around the club and how it could meet local needs. - Club Management
Clubs that are well managed tend to be more successful and sustainable for the future as well as being prepared in the event of an emergency. This section supports the establishment of good governance practices and financial management, engagement with NGB’s and encourages the development of a plan to help the club succeed.
Download the basic Clubmark criteria
To gain a basic understanding of what clubs will be working towards achieving to develop themselves, download the Clubmark criteria here.
