Felixstowe Road Runners

Clubmark Accreditation

by · June 11, 2016

Clubmark2016

Felixstowe Road Runners has successfully reapplied for Clubmark Accreditation after a visit to our club on Wed 8th June by Tania Spurling of England Athletics.  This signifies that the club operates fully in accordance with UKAthletics and England Athletics rules and regulations for good practice, safety and compliance.

Achieving Club Accreditation status is not just something that England Athletics asks clubs to do for the sake of it. It is something that brings benefits to the club, members and potential new members. Below is a list of some of the potential benefits.

Benefits to the club

  • Improved infrastructure – as part of the accreditation process clubs have to have set policies and procedures in place. In the long run this benefits the club and makes it easier to run
  • Increased membership – 80% of clubs have reported an increase in their membership since being accredited
  • Retain members – Club Accreditation creates a positive environment which improves the experience for members
  • Better access to funding and support – with club accreditation status, clubs receive more support and have better chances of gaining funding from local authorities. Many funding bodies state club accreditation as a requirement
  • Priority facility bookings – More and more local authorities and other leisure operators give priority-booking slots to accredited clubs
  • Raised profile – once accredited a club will be put on accredited databases. Clubs have access to the Clubmark (junior clubs only) and club accreditation logos to use on publications. On completion of club accreditation clubs are encouraged to share success story with EA and local media
  • Links with schools – Increasingly, schools are looking for guarantees of quality and the presence of child- friendly systems and procedures. Accredited clubs are normally the first invited to work with local schools and schools are being encouraged to signpost pupils to accredited clubs

Benefits to members

  • Reassurance for members – to be accredited a club must have the correct welfare and safeguarding policies in place
  • A welcoming and well managed club environment
  • Structured pathway – accredited clubs must have a structured pathway for junior members
  • Sign of Quality – club accreditation status acts a badge of quality for people looking to join a club
  • Reassurance for parents – to be accredited a club must have the correct welfare and child protection policies in place
  • More and better supported volunteers – by using templates and procedures introduced through accreditation, volunteers are better supported

More information can be found at the following link:

http://www.englandathletics.org/clubs–community/club-management/club-accreditation-clubmark

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