Clubmark

Clubmark

Sport plays a huge role in the lives of thousands of young people in Medway.

But how can parents be sure they are part of a safe and reputable club?

The answer lies with Clubmark, a national seal of approval for clubs providing high quality and secure sports opportunities for children.

See a list of all of Medway's Clubmark clubs.

What is Clubmark?

Clubmark is the only national cross-sports quality accreditation scheme for clubs with junior sections.

It is built around a set of core criteria which ensure that accredited clubs operate to a set of consistent, accepted and adopted minimum standards that encourage young people to take up sport, improve their talents and give them the option to initiate and maintain life-long participation in sport.

Clubmark is endorsed by all the main sporting, youth and education agencies involved in delivering sport for young people as the accreditation scheme for clubs with quality-assured junior sections.

To achieve the accreditation, clubs have to undergo a rigorous examination by their sport’s national governing body or the county sports partnership. They must prove that their coaches and volunteers are adequately trained, qualified and vetted and that the club has first aid provision, insurance, equity and child protection policies in place.

There are currently 23 clubs in Medway that have achieved Clubmark  - more than in any other area of Kent.

The benefits of Clubmark for the club.

Medway has launched a Clubmark Charter to inspire more clubs to achieve the national quality stamp of approval.
The charter details a programme of specific benefits and services offered to Clubmark clubs by Medway Council and its partners.

They include:

- free and discounted use of council leisure facilities and gyms;
- greater access to development grants;
- subsidies and discounts on training, clothing and sports science
- recognition and greater publicity;
- an automatic place on Medway's Community Sport Network, the body offering a co-ordinated voice for sport in Medway.

Medway Council's Sports Development Team can support local sports clubs to achieve Clubmark. For further information visit the Clubmark pages on the Medway 2012 website, phone 01634 338761 or email sportsdevteam@medway.gov.uk.