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A busy winter for England Athletics Club Support team: December round-up

Winter can be a quieter time for clubs with many winding down for the festivities or grinding through the winter training. Our England Athletics Club Support Managers have battled the frost and have been out in the community, meeting with and supporting clubs across the country. This month we have been delighted to visit three clubs: London Frontrunners, Newquay Road Runners, Steel City Striders and also supported clubs and athletes at the Sale Indoor Open Series.

Here’s a round-up of just some of the activity, clubs and projects we have supported throughout the last month:

  • We visited Dartford Harriers to support them in their facility project with local partners.
  • We visited St Albans AC who are looking to increase their capacity with many local athletes and runners inspired by local success, Phoebe Gill, at the 2024 Paris Games.
  • We have worked with Luton AC on securing local facility, Stockwood Park, as their club’s primary training facility.
  • We have visited Saffron AC, and supported them with their new club governance structure.
  • We are currently still supporting Bradford Airedale AC with a community fund application with Sporting Assets to improve their member experience.
  • Supporting Grantham AC with their development plan with a focus on sustainability and financial security.
  • We have visited Cornwall AC to help with mentoring opportunities within their club setting.
  • We have worked alongside key partners of Birmingham City Council and the West Midlands Regional Council to create new competition opportunities for local students.
  • We have supported Bristol and West AC with welfare and facility agreements.
  • We have worked with The Stragglers and Wimbledon Windmilers committee to increase and upskill their leaders to improve their member experience.

Below is a video round-up of this activity:


Emma Hurst, Senior Club Support Manager, said:

"December has been another great month for the Club Support Team as they visited such a range of clubs to discuss many different projects - from acquiring new facilities to increasing their capacity through recruiting new volunteers."

Club Standards

"As we look ahead to the new affiliation year in April, the focus of our support to clubs remains on helping them to achieve their Club Standards, in particular the mandatory Safeguarding Standard. It has been great to speak to clubs about how they are managing their Club Standards, and support them throughout the process."

"It is really important for clubs to achieve this standard not only for good governance, but also for the safety of their members of all ages."

More about Club Standards

Regional Councils

As well as supporting clubs in their local regions, the Club Support team are the vital link between England Athletics and the Regional Councils. This month, the team have worked along side the London and North East Regional Councils on their future planning sessions.

The nominations process to join our Regional Councils is now open! If you want to make an impact and help foster positive change in your local area, apply now.

More about Regional Councils

Contact us

As always, we would encourage clubs to get in touch with their Club Support Manager if they have would like support with club standards or club support matters:

  • Sarah Friday (North West and North East): sfriday@englandathletics.org | 07912 070640
  • Heidi Bradley (Yorkshire & Humber and East Midlands): hbradley@englandathletics.org | 07968 498701
  • Kirsty Fardell (East and South East): kfardell@englandathletics.org | 07714 077363
  • Amy Murtagh (London): amurtagh@englandathletics.org | 07500 910897
  • Rich Ayling (South West and West Midlands): rayling@englandathletics.org | 07718 394751
  • Megan Weir (Club Support Manager) mweir@englandathletics.org | 07442 776379
  • Emma Hurst (Senior Club Support Manager) ehurst@englandathletics.org | 07921 060306

Useful links

More on how we support affiliated clubs