A kite mark of quality that has jointly been developed in partnership between Sport England and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB's) to ensure that all clubs are working towards being Safe, Effective and Child Friendly.
The 6 Local Authorities also offer accreditation schemes for sports out of the NGB accreditation which are also recognised by Merseyside Sports Partnership.

What are the benefits for Parents & Participants?

Easy way to identify quality clubs
Specialist children/young people sports coaches
Clubs with a full understanding of child protection issues and implement best practice
Clubs with inclusive and equitable approaches to all children and young people
Clubs with quality programmes of activities

What are the benefits for the Club?

Increased membership by attracting new members
Access to potential funding sources - revenue and capital
Access to education, skills and training opportunities
Improve the quality of coaches
Access to volunteers
Access to promotional campaigns
Raise public awareness locally
Stronger foundations for the future of the club
A more professional organisation, with improved polices and procedures
Protection for children and our coaches
Secures our clubs future

Merseyside Sports Partnership is committed to supporting all Clubs across the partnership with the support of key partners such as Local Authorities, Sports Councils, Council for Voluntary Services and Volunteer Centres.  The diagram shows how all the key partners are working together to support the whole club.

How to Become a Quality Club

Since 2006 the consultancy company Knight Kavanagh and Page (KKP) have managed Clubmark with the responsibility of introducing a new quality scheme based on licencing for National Governing Bodies and County Sports Partnerships, monitoring the impact of Clubmark, marketing and promoting Clubmark in England and developing a range of benefits for Clubs.

KKP are working with National Governing Bodies of Sport and County Sports Partnerships to achieve their licence which will ensure consistency of accreditation and that the correct systems are in place to accredit clubs.  On the 22nd June 2007 Merseyside Sports Partnership became the third County Sports Partnership in the Country to be awarded its licence.

The accreditation process inspires the club to improve efficiency, which in turn has a positive impact on the way your business is run – creating a strong foundation for the future of the club.

Accreditation involves policies such as Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checks - towards the Child Protection policy. Your School to club links will then become stronger, ensuring your club is promoted to parents and children in your area and membership to your club is increased.

You’ll be given help and advice to develop professionally qualified coaching staff, improving the quality of coaching. Volunteers too are encouraged to train for coaching certification which raises the standard of your club.

Merseyside Sports Partnership (MSP) will promote your club on their website, and you will also appear on a National database and in other sporting directories that will help to attract new members. 

You will also have access to funding through effective communication with MSP and to a wealth of volunteers through the Sports Volunteering North West programme and the Volunteering and Leadership conference. In addition, the production of a Development Plan (required to achieve accreditation) will make you ready to bid for funding opportunities in the future.

For further details on Clubmark log onto www.clubmark.org.uk or contact your Local Authority Sports Development Team.