Kent Sports Development Unit is the latest county sports partnership to be awarded a licence to accredit Clubmark, becoming the eighth CSP to receive this prestigious award.

CSPs can be licensed to accredit clubs that do not have backing of a Sport England recognised NGB. The first club to be accredited by the Kent Sports Development Unit is Invicta Dynamos Ice Hockey Club from Gillingham.

In total there are currently 115 Clubmark accredited clubs in Kent across a range of sports, including some niche sports such as Medway Sub Aqua Club, Saxons Orienteering Club and the Centre of Excellence for Disability Archery in Kent (CEDAK).

Clare MacLeod, National Clubmark Manager, said, "The diversity of Clubmark clubs in Kent is really encouraging. There are more than 100 accredited clubs across a range of mainstream sports; but more importantly it also has excellent coverage in the niche sports, such as Medway Sub Aqua Club, Saxons Orienteering Club and CEDAK. Now that Kent has a licence to accredit we should see this diversity improve further."

Kent is currently working with another ten clubs keen to achieve Clubmark accreditation, from sports such as Korfball, Handball, Ten Pin Bowling and American Football.

Guthrie Miller, the Kent Club Development Officer, said, "I'd like to thank Invicta Dynamos for all of their hard work and congratulate them on achieving Clubmark. There are a wide range of Sports Clubs around the county, many of which have national profiles within their particular sport. It is only fair that these clubs have the opportunity to be recognised for their quality provision for children and young people. Clubmark is definitely good for Kent and we are looking forward to working with more Clubs in the future".

Clubs interested in achieving Clubmark should contact Guthrie Miller (guthrie.miller@kent.gov.uk ) or visit the website http://www.kentsport.org for more details.