Bude Bay Netball ClubMany clubs across the country are recognising the benefits that achieving Clubmark can bring. England Netball recognise the importance of clubs gaining Clubmark status and include the requirements in its CAPS (Club Action Planning Scheme) Club Accreditation process. Two netball clubs in the South West and one in the East have experienced first hand some of the potential benefits of achieving Clubmark accreditation.

Crosskeys Netball Club in Harlow, Essex received England Netball GOLD CAPS Accreditation and Clubmark accreditation in 2004. The club formed in 1980 has enjoyed a great deal of success, both locally and at County and National levels. From starting with one team, the club, based at Mark Hall Community School and Sports College, has grown dramatically and now field 8 Junior, 4 Youth and 8 Senior Teams. The players enter leagues in both Essex and Hertfordshire throughout the year and also take part in competitions at venues around the country.

Since achieving accreditation the club has benefited from a substantial increase in membership, especially in the Junior Section. The club set up a website www.crosskeysnetball.co.uk , that created more enquiries from a much wider area; as well as encouraging more young volunteers to join the club.

In addition, Crosskeys was awarded Club Essex Gold Accreditation and the Jack Petchey award. The Jack Petchey Foundation, established in 1999, supports projects in East London and West Essex that benefit young people aged 11 - 25, recognising the effort, endeavour and achievement of young people in a practical and positive way.

The additional financial benefits attached to these awards have enabled the club to send more volunteers on courses, such as coaching, umpiring and duty of care. The club has also been able to invest in new equipment, kit & training aids.

Club members have also benefited personally since achieving accreditation. For example, the club programme now includes a guest coach attending training sessions once a month.

On the horizon for the future is obtaining a club/school link shortly with the help of the Herts Sports Partnership, providing young girls with an exit route to a high quality netball club out of the core school hours.

For more information contact Club Secretary Pat Longville on peter.longville@ntlworld.com

Bude Bay achieved England Netball SILVER CAPS in May 2006 and has been thriving ever since achieving their accreditation. The club based in Cornwall has seen many benefits of this achievement which include the following:

• National recognition by England Netball as an accredited club
• Local recognition by North Cornwall Sport and Recreation Council - enabling access to funding.
• Step into Sport Volunteering placements

The club has also seen improvements in many areas and these include the design and production of more efficient paperwork and a more proactive and target driven action development plan.

For more information about the club and its achievements please contact: Mrs Denise May, Head Coach on 01288 331579 or 07830 134721

Challengers Netball Club, Gloucestershire, applied for England Netball CAPS accreditation and received BRONZE CAPS with Sport England Clubmark accreditation in March 2006.

Determined to continue up the achievement scale the club worked hard on the folder and resubmitted it a few months later and successfully achieved Silver accreditation just three months later, in June 2006.

Challengers Netball Club provides women and girls the opportunity for active participation in a team sport. The club welcomes players of all abilities; encouraging achievement of high levels of fitness and skill; improving social skills and bringing players of a diverse range of backgrounds together.

Since successfully achieving accreditation the club has seen many benefits, including an increase and improvement in the recruitment and retention of players through publicity on the Netball South West website www.netballsouthwest.co.uk 

For further information please contact Heather Battson, Club Secretary on 01684 772453 or heather@refpoint.co.uk