Clubmark

Clubmark, an initiative put together by Warrington Borough Council's Sport Development Team, Sport Warrington, was spearheaded locally by Warrington Service Area with THOUSANDS of young people in the town's Rugby League clubs, including the Wolves, benefiting from this pioneering scheme aimed at boosting standards and raising achievements, with extra support, guidance and resources provided to improve the way they work and support the development of young people in sport

The aim of the initiative was, and still is, to share good ideas and 'best practice' between sports clubs and to ensure they are providing quality, safe and enjoyable environments for their players, parents, coaches, officials and volunteers.

The Clubmark initiative is targeted at five key areas of work: -
1. Creating a responsible club
2. Creating a safe club
3. Managing people
4. Developing for the future, and;
5. Promoting your club

The Clubmark pack contains best practice examples and guidelines on all of these issues and provides information on training opportunities for those people associated with the running of sports clubs.

In terms of creating a responsible club, Clubmark gives guidance and support for developing a simple constitution (important when applying for funding) and promoting equality among club members. It also gives advice on the protection of children, insurance issues, codes of conduct and rules.

Clubmark covers issues of health and safety, risk assessment details, emergency procedures, reporting accidents and first aid.

The pack covers the recruitment and retaining of volunteers for sports clubs ' a vital part of their future and a valuable resource, as well as how to put together an information pack.

Those behind Clubmark can support the improvement and development of sports clubs through action plans, focusing activities and giving advice on how to carry out appraisals. They can also provide detailed information on how to promote and enhance the reputation of sports clubs locally through the media, to parents and the community.

On the 21st February at the first game held at the Halliwell Jones Stadium Warrington Wolves and its feeder clubs, Burtonwood Bulldogs, Culcheth Eagles, Bank Quay Bulls, Grappenhall Giants (Now Latchford Giants), Rylands Sharks, Woolston Rovers, Latchford Albion Unicorns and Crosfields received their Clubmark status. Sport England Representatives and the Sports Minister Richard Caborn presented the awards to Wolves Chief Executive Andy Gatcliffe and fellow representatives from each club who were accompanied by the main beneficiaries, the young players.

Clubmark has gone on to be a huge success, with it now been a nationally recognised accreditation which is synonymous with a high standard of coaching, child protection, and health and safety.