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Club Support Manager club visits: April round-up

Halesowen club visit

England Athletics’ seven-strong Club Support team provides a valuable and comprehensive service to our clubs: engaging in two-way conversation; acting upon club feedback; providing support and guidance; and ensuring that our affiliated clubs are well-placed to grow and thrive.

Each month, our team is out and about, up and down the country, visiting clubs in-person as regularly as possible, alongside their ongoing digital communications with clubs. Below is a round-up of their activity in April:

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With visits to clubs including BeFit Today Track Academy, Ilford AC, Enfield and Haringey AC, Houghton Harriers, North Shields Polytechnic AC, Cirencester AC, Halesowen ACC and Doncaster AC, our team – as always – were able to meet some of the many volunteers who help our clubs to function and thrive. Some of them gave us an explanation of their roles, and an update on their club’s activities.

We spoke with a number of club volunteers around the country who described their roles and why they love being a member of their club. Watch the video below.

This month's activities

  • Connected 15 clubs with a Throws Development Project.
  • Worked in collaboration with the funetics team to set up a funetics club and community activator course for clubs in North Yorkshire.
North Shields Poly club visit
  • Held Club Improvement Fund meetings with clubs including Portishead RC, Gnosall Trotters, Burton AC, Centurion RC, Aldridge RC, Yate and Sodbury AC, Rising Brook Runners, Ilford AC, Momentum Sports Club, Kimberworth Striders, Scarborough AC, Derwent Runners, Shadwell Runners, Desford Striders, Manchester Harriers, Durham City Harriers, Sunderland Strollers, Ramsbottom RC, Bury AC, Hartlepool AC, Blaydon RC, Vale of York Athletic Community, and Northern AC Isle of Man.
  • Linked Totton RC up with England Athletics’ Para Lead, Matt Kendrick, in order to support with enhancing their inclusivity and accessibility for wheelchair users.
  • Offered guidance to clubs such as Stadium Runners (introducing junior athletes to sessions); Haxby Runners (insurance advice); Scarborough AC (building coaching capacity and safety awareness regarding their junior section); Drighlington Dynamos (membership form advice); Worcester AC (legal guidance)
  • Introduced themselves to newly-affiliated clubs such as Shadwell Runners and Holgate Harriers.
  • Supported Exeter Harriers with health and safety guidance.
  • Met with South West Road Runners and their new chair, including discussions on member feedback shaping the future of the club.
  • Supported Shrewsbury AC towards Trackmark accreditation.
North Shields Poly club visit
  • Supported Tipton Harriers with a funding application to Sandwell Council which – if granted – would go towards a high jump bed and the delivery of track and field events.
  • Helped Hartshill Runners to explore the development of their key aims, which includes growing their club to 100 members.
  • Supported projects at Luton AC’s Stockwood Park facility; Northgate Arena (Ipswich); Backside to Trackside (Luton AC, Stevenage and North Herts AC, and Basildon AC); Bristol and West AC; Bicester AC.
  • Attended Birmingham meeting with Birchfield Harriers in attendance. A plan for school to club links was covered and we will be supporting conversations with BRAT, Sparkhill Harriers and Royal Sutton Coldfield to understand their readiness for involvement.
  • Met with Durham City Harriers to discuss moving from a volunteer to paid coaching set up, and support available.
  • Delivered a North East club forum, with 11 clubs in attendance. Subjects included sharing of best practice from Sunderland Strollers, focus on good governance beyond Club Standards, and our Officials' Development Manager Marc Ritchie spoke on recruiting and retaining officials.

Emma Hurst, Senior Club Support Manager, said:

"April marked the start of our affiliation window, and I’d like to take this opportunity to thank clubs for their work in reaffiliating, and particularly for achieving the now-mandatory Club Standard 6 – Safeguarding."

Halesowen club visit

"As shown above, we know that an incredible amount of work goes into allowing our clubs to function to a high level, and our Club Standards are designed to ensure that there is consistency and understanding in key areas, which helps clubs continue to thrive."

"Elsewhere last month, we received a further 42 applications for the Club Improvement Fund; continued the Club Leadership programme; facilitated the second Club Leaders' alumni session; and supported our Regional Councils – many of whom have recently welcomed new Councillors – all geared towards creating the best and most supportive environment for our clubs across the country."

Ilford club visit

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

Your Club Support team

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

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