Active Gloucestershire has developed a local accreditation standard for Gloucestershire and is encouraging clubs to achieve this over the next 12 months.
It is paramount that any club providing opportunities to young people, under the age of 18, have procedures in place to ensure the safety of all participants and reduce the risk of harm.
Many clubs have either achieved or are working towards the Clubmark Scheme, a National Accreditation Standard for clubs, which sets out minimum standards around Duty of Care/Child Protection, Coaching/Competition, Sports Equity/Ethics and Club Management.
However, there are clubs and organisations that provide opportunities for young people but are not eligible for Clubmark as the activity which they provide is not registered to a National Governing Body. There are also clubs that have shown interest in working towards Clubmark but require support in tackling the four sections that make up the Accreditation.
To help address this Active Gloucestershire has developed a local accreditation scheme called “Club Standards” which not only provides a set of standards for those clubs not eligible for Clubmark but also encourages and supports those working towards Clubmark to focus initially on completing the Duty of Care and Child Protection section first.
The aim of the Club Standards Accreditation is to:
- Encourage more clubs within the county to have child protection standards in place.This willminimise the risk of harm to young people and create safe environments for young people to enjoy sport and physical activity
- Provide a set of standards for clubs that are unable to work towards Clubmark
- Provide a stepping stone for clubs working towards Clubmark through supporting them to achieve many of the requirements from within the “Duty of Care/Child Protection” section of the Clubmark criteria
- Increase the number of quality clubs for schools to establish links with when providing exit routes for young people into community sport.
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Clubmark Clubs
Clubs that have already achieved the National Clubmark Accreditation are not eligable to apply for the Gloucestershire Award.
Clubs achieving Clubmark have shown considerable commitment to not only Safeguarding and Protecting Young People but also Coaching & Competition, Sports Equity & Ethics and Club Management. These clubs will be recognised locally and Nationally for providing high quality opportunities for young people and will find their details registered onto the National database of quality approved clubs on the following website www.clubmark.org.uk .
