Clubmark

What is it?

Sport England Clubmark is a cross-sport recognition of sports clubs with junior sections in recognition of a quality club.  It has been introduced to:

• Ensure sport’s national governing bodies (NGB) have core common criteria to ensure good practice runs through all development and accreditation schemes.
• To empower parent(s)/carer(s) in choosing a club for their children.
• To recognise an accredited club through a common approach to branding
• To provide a focus around which NGB’s, Sport England, scUK, Child Protection in Sport unit, County Sports Partnerships, English Federation of Disability Sport, Womens Sports Foundation, Sporting Equals, local authorities and others can come together to support good practice in sports clubs working with children and young people.

By creating a single, national standard, Clubmark helps give all kinds of sports clubs with a junior section a structure and direction that will benefit them in several ways:

Reactions from Clubs

• "The overall aim is really about raising standards, identifying the procedures that need to be in place so that the club can be the best it can be"
• "….it’s a good idea because it actually tells the parent that you’ve been set up correctly"
• "I would snap your hand off because it gives me an accreditation that I can put on my letterhead or wherever, and wave it around the county"
• "I think it’s some tangible demonstration that we are a good club"

Reactions from Parents

• "I would feel that it is safe for my children to attend those clubs who have Clubmark accreditation"
• "It sounds like it’s standardised, controlled, organised and well managed"
• "Well I like the fact that it does provide a reasonable expectation that the club will be of a good standard. At the moment you can’t really tell one club from another externally"
• "I would be very likely to look for a Clubmark club. It sounds like a great idea"