England Athletics Accredited Club Status (Clubmark)

The England Athletics Accredited Club scheme is part of the "Clubmark scheme", the only national cross sports quality accreditation scheme for clubs with junior sections. It is built around a set of core criteria which ensure that accredited clubs operate to a set of consistent, accepted and adopted minimum operating standards.

England Athletics recognises and values the commitment made by sports clubs to develop high quality, welcoming environments for young participants. The development of clubs which encourage young people to take-up sport, improve their talents and initiate and maintain life-long participation in sport is an essential part of our work to support the sporting infrastructure in England. 

Achieving Accredited Club Status will ensure your club is nationally recognised as providing a ‘safe, effective and child friendly’ club environment.

Accredited Club Status consists of four key areas:

1. The Playing Programme;
2. Duty of Care and Safeguarding and Protecting Children;
3. Knowing Your Club and its Community;
4. Club Management.

Clubs are required to complete the assessment file, and will be supported throughout the process by England Athletics Club and Coach Support Officers (CCSO). Upon completion of the file, your CCSO will undertake the initial assessment before a National Clubmark Panel at England Athletics signs off the accreditation.

Accredited Club Status is valid for a period of three years, after which re-assessment will be necessary. Your CCSO will work with you annually to ensure your folder remains up to date via an ‘annual health check’.

How England Athletics can help you with Accredited Club Status

England Athletics is ready to help your club undertake the process of achieving Accredited Club Status by providing you with the support you need to become an accredited club via your Club and Coach Support Officer.

To become an accredited club you will need to complete the following:

• A club portfolio containing evidence to be assessed against the Accredited Club Status checklist by a central panel.
• Host a site visit for an Accredited Club assessor.

The accreditation lasts for three years after which a complete re-assessment will be necessary. Clubs will also be supported to carry out an annual update on your portfolio. If you have a specific request for help or support please contact the Club and Coach Support Officer

If you are interested in registering to undertake Clubmark accreditation, please download a registration form on the right of this page and email to clubs@englandathletics.org.  

Accredited Club Tools and Templates

England Athletics will provide a series of athletics specific templates to help you with running your club. You can download them here. 

Other useful information can be found in the Developing Your Club section of this site, which can be found by clicking here.

Find Out More about Clubmark

Go to www.clubmark.org.uk to find out more about the scheme nationally or see our document Clubmark FAQs. You should also speak to your Club and Coach Support Officer as they will be able to give you help and advice.

County Sports Partnerships Can Help You

Contact your County Sports Partnership to find out more about how they can help your club in a variety of ways, not just Clubmark.

Clubmark Accreditation panel dates

A national panel meets every 2 months to assess any pack sumitted for accreditation.  Please ensure England Athletics receive your pack before the relvant panel date:

• 10th February 2010
• 11th March 2010
• 25th May 2010
• 22nd July 2010
• 23rd September 2010
• 25th November 2010

OFSTED accreditation

Should athletics clubs get OFSTED accreditation if they offer sport to under 8s? National Club Development Officer Alex Copeland confirms that it is very unlikely they should ever need to do so.  You do not need OFSTED for athletes aged over 8 - although all clubs should be Clubmark accredited or working towards if they have a junior section.  Click here to download factsheet.