With only one month left to collect for Active Kids 2011, many clubs will be counting their vouchers and browsing the catalogue for ideas on how to redeem them.

Last year saw over 900 accredited sports clubs registered and benefiting from over £120,000 worth of equipment. Bestselling items from 2010 included skipping ropes, badminton racquets, speed hurdles and general kitchen equipment, but we were more interested in finding out how individual Clubmark clubs have benefited over the past 12 months.

Woking Blackhawks Basketball Club collected vouchers through club members and their families. Club Chairman, Keith Farmer, said "We used our vouchers to purchase basketballs in various sizes and a total of 22 balls were redeemed. These are consumable items that require replacement on an annual basis and I would estimate this is a saving to the club of approximately £250. We are collecting again this year and have set ourselves an ambitious target of 14,999 vouchers in order to purchase a wheelchair for use by our wheelchair basketball team."
Linda Hinds, Riding Centre Manager at Vauxhall City Farm "We redeemed the vouchers mostly on equipment to help participants enjoy active outdoor activities such as gardening and pond dipping. Items we chose included gardening gloves and equipment, a habitat table and small items of sports equipment such as bean bags. We also received equipment to help with healthy eating sessions including a magnetic healthy meal set. The equipment has benefited us by increasing the range of outdoor activities we can safely offer and we have been able to include more active outdoor activities for those visiting the farm."
Crystal Palace Triathletes redeemed their vouchers on 11 heart rate monitors for the juniors and are looking to purchase coaching cones with the vouchers they are collecting this year.
Newsome Panthers Juniors ARLFC used Active Kids vouchers to purchase 3 sets of tag belts and 2 sets of SAQ ladders. "We chose this equipment knowing that many individuals would be able to use them. The equipment has been used by many of the teams in the club to further enhance their skills and we have loaned the tag belts to a local school to allow them to practice for a tag tournament that they were taking part in."

If you would like to share your experience of how Active Kids has helped your club please contact us via features@clubmark.org.uk

To browse the Active Kids 2011 catalogue or for more information please visit the website here sainsburys.co.uk/activekids