Frequently Asked Questions
General
- What is Clubmark?
- How can my club link with a local school?
- How can we receive support for our talentedathletes/performers?
- What is the Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme?
Club Management
- I would like to set up a new sports club, how do I go about it?
- What is the appropriate insurance for my club?
- How can I promote my club or event?
- How do I become affiliated to my Governing Body of Sport?
- What should my club constitution include?
Child Protection
- Which club volunteers should be Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checked?
- How do I get CRB checks for my club volunteers?
- How do I implement a Child Protection policy?
Coaches, Officials and Volunteers
- We do not have enough volunteers in our club, how do we recruit more?
- My club would like to employ a sports coach, how do we go about it?
- When and where are the next sports specific, Governing Body of Sport Coaching Courses?
Disability Sport
- I would like to set up a disability section at my club, how do I go about it?
- Our club has been approached by a person with a disability about joining. What is the best way of integrate them into the club?
- What is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)
Funding
- How can I get funding for; facilities, activities, individuals, training, coaches etc?
Facility Development
- Our current facilities are not suitable, what should we do?
General
What is Clubmark?
All sports clubs, with junior sections, should be encouraged to work towards Clubmark. Sport England’s Clubmark is a cross-sport accreditation for sports clubs with junior sections in recognition of a quality club. It has been introduced to:
- Ensure sport’s governing bodies 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 Governing Bodies of Sport (GBs), Sport England, sports coach UK, Child Protection in Sport Unit, County Sports Partnerships, English Federation of Disability Sport, Women’s Sports Foundation, Sporting Equals, local authorities and others can come together to support good practice in sports clubs working with children and young people.
More information at:
How can my club link with a local school?
Clubs should have a representative who works with Sport Hampshire & IOW, the local School Sports Partnership or Governing Bodies of Sport to make school-club links.
Sport Hampshire & IOW is involved in club development and is in regular contact with School Sports Partnerships and other sport specific development groups. As such we play a pivotal role in facilitating a link from the community club to the Partnership Development Managers based in School Sports Partnerships.
School club links work best if they bring together a high quality School or School Sports Partnership and a high quality club.
For more information on School-Club links visit: www.culture.gov.uk
How can we receive support for our talented athletes/performers?
Free Access for CountySports People (FACS)
If you are competing for, or training within, a CountySquad you may be eligible to access the local leisure centres in your area for free. More information is available at http://www.hants.gov.uk/sports/facs.html
Free Access for National Sports People (FANS)
FANS is for athletes ranked in the top 10 nationally (for their age group) for their chosen sport.
To help you with your training, you can access 3 sports/leisure centres (choose from a county-wide selection) free of charge and also receive a host of other benefits including discounts at sports injury clinics and regular updates from the FANS team.
Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, or TASS as it is better known, is a Government funded programme that represents a unique partnership between sport and higher and further education. The programme awards Scholarships and Bursaries to talented athletes that are committed to combining their sport and education. It aims to reduce the drop out of talented athletes from sport and supports and develops the talent of today for sporting success in the future. Governing Bodies of Sport nominate individuals for this.
More information at http://www.tass.gov.uk/
What is Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme (CASC) status?
The Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme (CASC) offers local sports clubs a number of significant tax breaks and the possibility of claiming rate relief from their local authorities. The measures are designed to help keep money in the grassroots sport sector and to help community sport and recreation clubs secure the financial health of their organisations.
More information at:
Club Management
I would like to set up a new sports club, how do I go about it?
Clubs are usually initiated by a relatively small number of people who share a common interest and when a formal club structure will be beneficial to them all. When there is early enthusiasm to establish a club, it is important to capitalise on this and move things forward quickly.
There are three important things that need to be thought about:
- Are there enough potential members?
- Are there enough volunteers to run the club?
- Is there another club in the local area that is already meeting the needs of the sport locally?
Once there is a general agreement to set up a club, a formal meeting will need to be called. During this meeting there will be a number of things that need to be decided and agreed on. It is often worth doing some preliminary work before the meeting, so that decisions can be made at the outset.
More information at www.runningsports.org
What is the appropriate insurance for my club?
Sports clubs and organisations, as well as expedition leaders and schools, must ensure that adequate insurance arrangements are in place, this is especially so in view of the increase in litigation. This applies to all those taking part in sport and recreation as administrative officials, coaches or participants themselves, having a duty of care and responsibility to ensure that anything they do does not cause injury or financial loss to others, or damage to property. If they do cause such damage, and 'negligence' can be proven, they become legally liable to pay compensation.
Insurance policies are legal documents, and it is best for organisations to use a firm that specialises in sports insurance. In the first instance contact your relevant Governing Body of Sport who may have their own scheme.
Organisations should be able to show evidence of having thought through an event or activity and, where appropriate, have made a risk assessment.
For a list of Governing Bodies of Sport please be directed to:
www.sportscoachuk.org and click on News & Links, then NGB's.
How can I promote my club or event?
When promoting your club or event it is important to know who your target groups are. What works for one group may not work for another. It may help you to build partnerships with non-sporting organisations or to find different communication methods. Plan carefully as you may be targeting groups who either do not usually play sport or perceive barriers to their participation.
Identify and understand the product or service you are offering. What are the particular benefits and attractions of your club?
- Do you provide friendship and social opportunities?
- Do you offer coaching and a chance to improve standards?
- Are you an accredited Clubmark Club?
- Do you provide opportunities for all?
- Do you have attractive facilities?
- Can you provide high-level competition?
- Are you conveniently located?
You will need to decide what promotional methods you will use to reach your target groups. Advertising could include: notice boards, posters, free t-shirts, newsletter, website and local press. Social Events could include coffee mornings, taster sessions or open promotional days.
It will also be important to link with Sport Hampshire & IOW, Governing Bodies of Sport and Local Authority Sports Development Officer to see what help and advice they can provide you. They may be able to assist with promotion through their own publications or websites. If the club has achieved Clubmark it is likely that these organisations will actively recommend people to join your club.
How do I become affiliated to my Governing Body of Sport?
Find out who your relevant sports Governing Body is and request a form to become affiliated. You will need to ensure that you are correctly established with a constitution, committee etc.
For a list of Governing Bodies of Sport please be directed to: www.sportscoachuk.org and click on News & Links, then NGB's
What should my club constitution include?
A constitution will include the name of your club, the aims of the club, membership information including fees, the officers of the club, committee information, finances, Annual General Meetings and what happens on dissolution of the club. The constitution will set the clubs direction by identifying key members who form the committee and gives certain rules as to how the club will be run.
It is advisable to seek advice from your Local Authority Sports Development Officer, County Sport Partnership Club Development Officer and/or Governing Body of Sport Development Officer.Below is a link to a model constitution from the Sport England website:
www.sportengland.org/templateimodelconstitution.doc
Child Protection
Which club volunteers should be Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checked?
Think about the volunteers within your club who might have unsupervised, isolated or regular one-to-one contact with young people. For example, a coach, an official, a chaperone, a team manager or a sports leader. The nature of volunteering in clubs allows for people changing from one role to another. For example, this year’s fixtures secretary becomes next year’s team manager. You should check anyone who may have direct contact with young people at the club.
Consult your Governing Body of Sport who has a national child protection policy which sports clubs, for that sport, should align their own policy with. This will provide guidance on which volunteers should be CRB checked.
Other useful contacts include:
Child Protection in Sport Unit: www.thecpsu.org.uk
Criminal Records Bureau: www.crb.gov.uk
How do I get CRB checks for my club volunteers?
Initial enquiries will need to be made through your relevant Governing Body of Sport.
Any screening procedures established by the sports club should be used consistently for all volunteers who might now, or in the future, have unsupervised, isolated or regular one-to-one contact with young and vulnerable people. Existing volunteers can be asked to provide the same information as new, potential volunteers.
There are three levels of CRB checks – enhanced, standard and basic. The club will need enough information in order to receive a minimum of a standard disclosure from the CRB. A disclosure form and additional guidance on what to include can be obtained from the www.crb.gov.uk.
You will need to submit the relevant information to the CRB for checking, in the case of sports clubs make the application through your Governing Body who will be registered with the CRB. There is no cost for screening volunteers with the CRB, but some Governing Bodies for Sport may charge a small amount for administration of the application.
For a list of Governing Bodies of Sport please be directed to:
www.sportscoachuk.org and click on News and Links, then NGB's
How do I implement a club Child Protection policy?
All Governing Bodies of Sport have a specific Child Protection Policy, which should be the basis for any club policy that follows. This will ensure the policy covers the correct areas and will be a guide for the clubs operation.
Other useful contacts include:
Child Protection in Sport Unit: www.thecpsu.org.uk
Criminal Records Bureau: www.crb.gov.uk
Coaches, Officials & Volunteer
We do not have enough volunteers in our club, how do we recruit more?
Every community sports club is reliant on its volunteers, however some times they are hard to recruit. The simplest way of recruiting volunteers may be to ask individuals, parents or members of the club if they would be willing to volunteer.
A national website www.do-it.org.uk was launched in 2001 with the first, and still the only, national database of volunteering opportunities in the UK. The majority of opportunities on do-it come from local Volunteer Centers in England.
In addition you could contact you local VolunteerCenter. To find your nearest VolunteerCenter take a look at: www.volunteering.org.uk/volunteerdevelopmentagencies
Runningsports offers some good information and advice regarding volunteers. By registering on the website you can download lots of free information. For more information visit: www.runningsports.org
For further tips and hints on recruiting volunteers please visit www.sporthampshireiow.co.uk/volunteerinfo
My club would like to employ a sports coach, how do we go about it?
Employment law is complex and it is important to seek advice from your relevant local authority or the Inland Revenue before employing anyone at your club. Is the club best placed to employ the coach in the first place or could the club make use of coaches available through Sport Hampshire & IOW or Governing Bodies of Sport?
For further information please visit the volunteer pages of the Sport Hampshire and IOW website
http://www.sporthampshireiow.co.uk and click on Volunteers
Sportscoach UK and Running Sports workshops are designed to sit alongside Governing Body of Sport awards and help to develop your coaching knowledge. These generic workshops are designed to promote excellence in coaching and to provide opportunities for ongoing personal development.
For a full list of courses listed by region please visit:
www.sportscoachuk.org and click on Events & Courses, Workshops.
When and where is the next sports specific, Governing Body of Sport Coaching Course?
Sport Specific Award qualifications are run by most Governing Bodies of Sport. Gaining one of these qualifications ensures that the players you subsequently work with will be receiving the best coaching and the latest thinking. A further benefit of gaining a Governing Body of Sport Coaching Award (usually Level 1 and above) is that it will also give you liability insurance to cover you against accidents that could happen when coaching.
For more information on when and where your next sport specific coaching course is please look at the specific sports pages on our website www.sporthampshireiow.co.uk
Disability Sport
I would like to set up a Disability section at my club, how do I go about it?
You will need to find out if there is demand for the section, and you might decide to focus on particular disabilities – for example: learning disabilities, wheelchair sport, blind sport etc.
Ensure that people within the club (coaches and volunteers) have been trained to work with or coach people with disabilities. Peter Hull, Disability Sports Development Officer for Hampshire will be able to suggest suitable courses or alternatively contact your specific Governing Body of Sport.
Alternatively, for a full list of courses listed by region please visit:
www.sportscoachuk.org and click on Events & Courses, Workshops.
Our club has been approached by a person with a disability about joining. What is the best way to integrate them into the club?
Ask this new member if there is anything that would help them integrate more smoothly into the club, and provide it where possible
In addition, take advice from your specific Governing Body on any adaptations they might suggest – some governing bodies have a national officer dealing specifically with disability issues.
Initially a “buddy” might help integration – as with any new member.
What is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)?
The Disability Act 1995 introduced new laws aimed at ending the discrimination that many disabled people face. The Act gave disabled people new rights of access to goods, facilities and services, as well as in employment and buying or renting property.
The acts states that sports clubs need to make 'reasonable adjustments'. It recognises that many barriers exist which make it difficult or impossible for disabled people to use services or facilities. Making a reasonable adjustment means taking action to remove or overcome those barriers.
Clubs can make 'reasonable adjustments' to include disabled people by:
- Talking and consulting with disabled people
- Establishing how accessible the club facilities are to disabled people
- Considering how the club currently promote its activities
- Increasing the knowledge of key club officials, volunteers and coaches
- Ensuring Club Policies reflect an inclusive approach
The DDA expects clubs, to anticipate the needs of disabled people to ensure that they are treated equally to everyone else and that they will have access to services, facilities etc on an equal basis. Sport and sports facilities are in many cases covered by the Act. It is anticipated that the scope of the Act will be widened further in the next few years and therefore; it is in clubs interest to address these issues now.
For more information visit:
www.sportengland.org/iyr_london-dda_1995
Funding
How can I get funding for; facilities, activities, individuals, training, coaches etc?
Fund-raising is the art of getting money for specific projects or club activities. There are many ways of raising money, including:
- Membership subscriptions
- Seeking donations
- Obtaining grants
- Organising fund-raising events
- Running lotteries
- Obtaining sponsorship
The fundraiser at the club must know what makes the club worthy of support; how to tell people about the value of their cause; how to identify various people and organisations that might donate to them; how to reach these potential supporters and how to get an immediate and helpful response.
It will also be important to link with Sport Hampshire & IOW, Governing Body and Local Authority Sports Development Officer to see what help, advice and support they can provide you. They will be aware of the major grant awards available to sports clubs but may also be aware of more local opportunities or grants that maybe available.
Runningsports offers some good information and advice regarding fund-raising, grants and sponsorship. By registering on the website you can download lots of free information. For more information visit: www.runningsports.org
Facility Development
Our current facilities are not suitable, what should we do?
It is not easy to build a new facility and it may be better to look at local facility provision to see if there is anything else suitable in the local area. Contact your local authority Sports Development Officer to discuss alternative facilities. If you are unsure of whom your Local Authority Sports Development Officer is please visit http://www.sporthampshireiow.co.uk and then click on contact us.
Alternatively, take a look at www.activeplaces.com to search for sports facilities in your local area.
If it is a new facility you are building, Sport England has produced a range of guidance notes detailing technical advice and standards for the design and development of sports facilities. This guidance should be used if you are considering a sports facility project and particularly if you are seeking to apply for lottery funding.
In addition, consult your Governing Body of Sport about the technical specifications and strategic need for any new facility. The Local Authority will also need to be consulted to establish if local strategies and plans can back up the need for a new facility.
For Sport England’s detailed technical advice, visit: http://www.sportengland.org