ClubMark plus Grant

 

 

We have been advised verbally (early feb 09) that we have been awarded this grant for £950.  Amongst other things this will allow the Club to buy a laptop computer to help with administration.   March – we have now received the grant.

The ClubMark grant was unusual in that there were no specific conditions attached.  You may wonder why we actually bid for what we do when there may be something that you feel is more important.  This is due to the objectives behind the grant, unless we meet these we won’t get anything.

For instance the current England Athletics grants are specifically targetted at coach development to address a national shortage of qualified coaches.  Some money is also available for schemes that increase participation in athletics.  Unfortunately at the moment we have not identified any grants that would fund the long jump pit move (approx £30k) or replacement of pole vault equipment.

In february 09 we are also bidding for a grant from Lancashire Grassroots to deliver athletics into primary schools and then to form a bridge with the Club.  We are also bidding for an Athletics Network grant to deliver athletics into primary and secondary schools plus purchasing a new high jump bed (the current bed does not meet current standards for adult competition and we have to borrow from other clubs).

1st March 2009 – we have got through to the 2nd round of bidding for the EA network grant.  Your chairman is currently putting together the final submission.

6th March – the network bid has now been submitted.  We are the only Club in Lancashire involved at this stage.

April 09 – we have been advised that our bid has been unsuccesful and that the Club will receive no development funding.  The Club officials are extremely disappointed with this backward step and have expressed these concerns to England Athletics especially having recently gained ClubMark status.  We have also been advised that we have not gained Grassroots funding because our bid was not “community led”.  We are waiting for full feedback on both bids. 

 

Clubmark is the mark of high quality junior clubs

The Club has now been awarded Club Mark status by England Athletics.  This standard demonstrates to members and their parents that the Club is efficiently and safely run and isn’t held by many Clubs.

In addition Clubmark status will help us to obtain grant funding with less paperwork – that will already have been done through the assessment.

The ClubMark standard is very specific and everything has to be evidence based.  For instance if we say that our coaches are qualified then the file has to contain copies of their courses all of which have to be in date.  There is also a list of courses that club officials need to have attended including child protection, club equity, first aid etc.