England Athletics supporting the club community: Club Support round-up August 2025
Throughout August, England Athletics' Club Support team continued to provide 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. Here's a round-up of the team's activity in August:
With visits to clubs including West Norfolk AC, Mansfield Harriers, West Cheshire AC, Tavistock AC, Newquay & Par AC and Cornwall AC, 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.
Here is some of the other support our team have been giving to clubs up and down the country in the last month:
Advice and guidance
A phone call was arranged with Saffron AC to discuss appropriate coach cover for throwing sessions. This has given the club confidence in safe session delivery as well as an understanding on how to bring new volunteers into a coaching role whilst still having appropriate cover during their period of training.
We had a virtual meeting with Haslemere Border AC to support the creation of their Junior Section. They are progressing well and are planning for the Junior Section to begin in April 2026.
We provided virtual support for Lifts and Sprints to relocate to a new facility to continue with their athletics academy.
Additionally, we've supported connecting Birchfield Harriers, City of Plymouth AC and Erme Valley Harriers with the funetics multi challenge.
We provided guidance to Crossgates Harriers on including junior athletes within training sessions.
We also provided advice and guidance to The Fitness Coach club on accessing welfare training. This has allowed this new club with an understanding of what is needed to be in place for Club Standard 6.
Also in August, we arranged a phone call with Ripon Runners to discuss governance matters, and provided guidance on changing roles. This has allowed to club to continue to work efficiently.
We provided advice and guidance to Wakefield Harriers and AC on the safe recruitment of volunteers including the DBS checking process, and the use of self-declarations. This has allowed the club to assess the DBS needs of their current volunteer workforce.
In addition, we provided support to Loftus and Whitby Running Club, who needed some additional support relating to the coach renewal process. After discussing their needs, we have put them in contact with the coaching team and they are receiving the right support which will allow them to retain two coaches who would otherwise not have been able to renew.
We connected Amber Valley and Erewash AC with a local charity to support a young athlete with visual impairment via an enquiry with British Blind Sport.
We had a meeting with Stockport Borough Council to discuss athletics and running in the borough, including opportunities for partnership work and provide better links between clubs.
Facilities
We had a virtual meeting regarding Backside to Trackside, to plan the roll out of the programme in Herts and Essex, linking up to facilities and affiliated clubs at those facilities.
We attended a meeting with Bristol & West AC, Bristol City Council and the Cabbot Learning Federation.
The track at Whitehall has been TrackMark accredited to 2028 and funding has been secured for a deep clean. This month, Sporting Assets will be working with all parties involved to produce a feasibility study on the track and recommendations from this will be used to further enhance the operating model at Whitehall and secure the facility for years to come.
We had a virtual meeting with Mangotsfield School over the potential to improve an old cinder surface track there. A number of affiliated clubs within the Bristol area have expressed an interest in having training at the facility if improvements are made.
We have connected the school with a SAPCA-approved consultant to provide further advice on cost and potential facility improvements.
Regional Councils
We supported the East Midlands Regional Council to connect with the Talent team to set up a Jumps and Throws Coach Development Day, which will be held in Derby on 18 October. We also supported the Regional Council on the development of their regional plan, providing insight into the region on key priorities, and linkage to Club Support Manager objectives.
In summary
Over 1000 of our affiliated clubs have achieved seven out of seven of our Club Standards already, ensuring their clubs provide good governance and duty of care – thank you to all who have completed this. Please note that all 7 Club Standards will be mandatory for clubs to affiliate with England Athletics next year. Our Club Standards are there to ensure our sport thrives and that your club continues to be a safe and welcoming place for everyone involved.
Our Club Support team continue to organise our upcoming Regional Club Forums and Regional Volunteer Awards.
This month, we have welcomed two new Club Support Managers to the team – Scott Milne, who will be looking after the East Midlands and West Midlands regions, and Ffion Edgeley, who will be looking after the South East region.
Also, our Club Improvement Fund has reopened for applications, offering vital support to clubs across the country.
Contact our Club Support team
- Emma Hurst: Head of Club Support: ehurst@englandathletics.org | 07921 060306
- Megan Weir: Club Support Officer: mweir@englandathletics.org | 07442 776379
- Sarah Friday: North West: sfriday@englandathletics.org | 07912 070640
- Heidi Bradley: Yorkshire & Humberside and North East: hbradley@englandathletics.org | 07968 498701
- Scott Milne: East Midlands and West Midlands: smilne@englandathletics.org | 07345434738
- Kirsty Fardell: East and London: kfardell@englandathletics.org | 07714 077363
- Ffion Edgeley: South East: fedgeley@englandathletics.org | 07345434753
- Rich Ayling: South West: rayling@englandathletics.org | 07718 394751