CLUB DEVELOPMENT
Clubs are a vital part of a sporting pathway for any person whether disabled or non disabled. If you commit to making your clubs more inclusive, English Federation of Disability Sport will support you. Contact your local EFDS for advice.
For disabled people there can be many different types of clubs and these offer a different experience. The important issue is choice and each person should be able to make an informed decision about which club and sporting environment is correct for them.
Some people may feel happier in a single impairment club where they know that all activities will be arranged in a manner to support them. A good example is the Actionnaires clubs organised by Action for Blind People where all activities are suitable for children and young people who are visually impaired or blind. Equally, Mencap run sports clubs for children and adults who have a learning disability and provide for their members in a safe and secure environment.
There are also clubs where a variety of sports are offered and these are for various impairment groups. These can sometimes come under the umbrella of a recognized charity, or they have often been established locally as independent clubs.
Single sports clubs which offer a sport more popular amongst disabled people are also important on the sporting landscape. Popular single sports clubs are goalball, (for visually impaired people) boccia and wheelchair basketball, all recognized Paralympic sports.
Some disabled people will wish to pursue their sporting interest in the same way that non disabled people do and join the club closest to them that offers the sport of their choice. This club should be inclusive and open to a disabled person joining. Resources to help clubs become more inclusive can be accessed by clicking on Resources for Clubs menu on the left.
Clubmark is the nationally recognised Sport England accreditation scheme for junior sports clubs. As a single national standard, Clubmark gives sports clubs structure and direction.
EFDS is supporting clubs in the player pathway through the creation of Clubmark for disability sports clubs. Clubs working through Clubmark receive hands on support from their local County Sport Partnership and download resources on the EFDS website.
Resources to assist ‘mainstream' clubs to become more inclusive have also been produced and can be accessed on the website. There are also useful case studies for any clubs wishing to increase their membership of disabled people.
Clubmark was introduced by Sport England in 2002 to:
• Ensure that accrediting partners apply core common criteria to ensure that consistent good practice and minimum operating standards are delivered through all club development and accreditation schemes.
• To empower parent(s)/carer(s) when choosing a club for their children.
• To ensure that Clubmark accredited clubs are recognised through a common approach to branding.
• To provide a focus around which all organisations involved in sport can come together to support good practice in sports clubs working with children and young people.
Clubmark is 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.
Sport England recognises and values the commitment made by sports clubs to develop high quality, welcoming environments for young participants. The development of clubs that encourage young people to take-up sport, improve their talents and give them the option to initiate and maintain life-long participation in sport is an essential part of our work to support the sporting infrastructure in England.
Clubmark is endorsed by all the main sporting, youth and education agencies involved in delivery of sporting opportunity for young people as the accreditation scheme for clubs with quality assured junior sections.
Clubmark accreditation is awarded to clubs that comply with minimum operating standards in four areas:
• The playing programme
• Duty of care and safeguarding and protecting children and young people
• Sports equity and ethics
• Club management
To find out more about clubmark and how to gain accreditation, please visit www.clubmark.org.uk/
If you have a good news story about your successful disability sports club, or how your club welcomes disabled people please email: lmilner@efds.co.uk
