Sunderland Harriers have been awarded their Clubmark certificate, working with England Athletics to secure the accredition.

Sunderland club membership secretary Paul Redman, the man who steered the Club through the Clubmark process, stated:

"Clubmark is proving a vital development for the Harriers. It was vital that we had to get endorsed with this qualification for the club to move forward. We had to be seen to be a safe and friendly club that had appropriate procedures in place for child protection, risk assessment and checking of coaches. Without Clubmark, we could have lost many young members."

Emma Williams, England Athletics Club and Coach Support Officer, commented:

"It is fantastic that Sunderland Harriers has achieved Clubmark accreditation. It was down to the hard work of Paul and the club committee that they have secured it. It was a pleasure in working alongside the committee and attending the club to help them in securing this award. This will be a real asset to the club as it sends out all the right signals to everyone connected with the sport of athletics."