Club Mark
Contents...
Introduction
Croquet England is keen to recognise clubs that provide an enjoyable, safe and fulfilling space for all participants to enjoy playing croquet and to help them grow and develop as well-managed, successful clubs that are known in their local communities. Word of mouth is the most important way of attracting new members so building a good reputation is essential.
What is Club Mark?
Club Mark was a nationally recognised, cross-sport accreditation process for community sports clubs introduced by the Sports Councils in 1985 to assure participants, and the parents of juniors, that clubs were safe and well-managed. In 2019 Sport England decided to pass responsibility over to each sport's National Governing Body. Since then, many NGBs, including England Hockey, England & Wales Cricket Board, the Football Association, British Cycling, British Triathlon, England Athletics and others, have introduced their own versions of the original Club Mark accreditation for their clubs. Croquet England has now, with the valuable feedback and assistance of three clubs, developed its Club Mark for Croquet.
Why Should My Club be Interested?
Most clubs want to attract and retain members, many would like to have more young people or families, some would like sponsorship or funding to secure their future or achieve their goals. Club Mark will give the wider local community, parents, new recruits and potential sponsors or funders the confidence that they would like to be associated with your club. Accredited clubs will be able to display the Club Mark logo on all their publicity and communication channels, thereby letting everyone know that your club is a great club.
What Does it Involve?
There are two levels of accreditation, silver and gold, in recognition of the varied resources that clubs have available. The requirements for silver will be more attainable for smaller clubs or to use as a stepping stone to the more demanding requirements of the gold accreditation. Both levels though are constructed around the following four pillars:
- Club Structure and Management.
Clubs that are well managed tend to be more successful and sustainable for the future as well as being better prepared in the event of unexpected events or emergencies. Good leaders have vision and the future of the whole club at heart so they will make sound long-term decisions.
- Duty of Care and Welfare.
Members, volunteers, and visitors all want to enjoy their croquet, and other activities, at the Club in a safe environment.
- Playing Facilities and Coaching Programme.
Most people have many competing claims on their time. They want opportunities that are fun, sociable, convenient and competitive. They want to be able to progress in the sport to whatever is their desired level of achievement. Croquet competes with other leisure and family commitments and so the playing timetable and coaching programme need to be flexible if people are to keep coming back.
- Knowing your Club and Community.
Having a friendly, welcoming and sociable club is one of the most important aspects of being a club member. This is crucial in retaining members as well as making new members feel welcome. Your club also needs to be known in your area. Word of mouth and personal recommendation are the most frequent ways new members find out about croquet. This is also about recognition of all the people who make playing croquet possible, particularly all those volunteers who help the club run, and keeping your existing members happy.
Where Can I Find Out More?
Firstly, take a look at Gold and Silver Standard Club Mark accreditation requirements so that you can decide which level your club would like to attain. This document has some links to Sport England's Club Health Check Tool which will provide a good starting point for you work out what your club already does well and where there is room for improvement.
You should then have a look at the guidance document which has been produced for each of the standards. These documents give pointers to lots of information and advice on Croquet England websites and on external websites for each of the requirements. (Even if you decide not to proceed with accreditation, you should find these guidance documents useful references for your club's committee.)
How Does My Club Become Accredited?
You can now start to work through the evidence requirements for the standard you have decided upon. A template (in Word format so that you can easily edit it) is provided below to help you to keep track of what you have completed. A similar assessment chart will be used by your assessor.
Assessment template for Silver Standard
Assessment template for Gold Standard
When you think your club is ready for assessment then please contact the Club Mark lead (currently beatrice.mcglen#croquetengland.org.uk) who will arrange for an assessor to work though your evidence with you.
You may like to know that the assessor will either grant you your accreditation immediately if they are satisfied that you have met all the requirements, or they may ask you to provide more detail on some of the points. So there is no fail, just an immediate pass or a deferred pass.
Using this website
