Frequently Asked Questions
These frequently asked questions are based on a list produced by Sport England South East and the seven counties in the South East Region.
Please navigate using the shortcuts below.
General
What is Clubmark?
How can my club link with my local school?
How can we receive support for our talented athletes/performers?
What is Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) Status?
Club
Management
I would like to set up a new sports club, how do I
go about it?
What is the appropriate insurance for my club?
How can I promote my club or event?
How do I become affiliated to my National Governing Body
of Sport?
What should my club constitution include?
Child
Protection
Which club volunteers should be Criminal Record Bureau
(CRB) checked?
How do I get CRB checks for my club volunteers?
How do I implement a club Child Protection policy?
Coaches,
officials and volunteers
We do not have enough volunteers at our club, how
can we recruit more?
My club would like to employ a sports coach, how
do we go about it?
When and where is the next generic coach education
course e.g. child protection, first aid?
When and where is the next National Governing Body
Coaching course?
Disability
Sport
I would like to set up a Disability section at my
club, how do I go about it?
Our club has been approached by a person with
a disability about joining. What is the best way to integrate them into
the club?
What is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)?
Funding
How can I get funding for; facilities, activities,
individuals, training, coaches, etc?
Facility
Development
Our current facilities are not suitable, what should
we do?
What happens if my question has not been answered?
What
is Clubmark?
All sports clubs, with junior sections, should be encouraged to
work towards Clubmark. Sport England’s Clubmark is a cross-sport
accreditation for sports clubs with junior sections in recognition
of a quality club. It has been introduced to:
- Ensure sport’s national governing bodies (NGBs) have core common criteria to ensure good practice runs through all development and accreditation schemes.
- To empower parent(s)/carer(s) in choosing a club for their
children.
- To recognise an accredited club through a common approach
to branding.
- To provide a focus around which national governing bodies (NGBs), Sport England, sports coach UK, Child Protection in Sport Unit, Kent Sport Leisure & Olympics Service, English Federation of Disability Sport, Women’s Sports Foundation, Sporting Equals, local authorities and others can come together to support good practice in sports clubs working with children and young people.
Clubmark pages on Sport England website
How
can my club link with our local school?
Clubs should have a representative who works with either the Kent
Sport Leisure & Olympics Service, the local School Sports Partnership or
National Governing Body to make school-club links.
The Kent Sport Leisure & Olympics Service is involved in club development
and is in regular contact with School Sports Partnerships and other
sport specific development groups. As such they play a pivotal role
in facilitating a link from the community club to the Partnership
Development Managers based in School Sports Partnerships.
School club links work best if they bring together a high quality
School or School Sports Partnership and a high quality Club.
For more information visit the School Sport pages
Download
Kent School-Club Link guidance
Download
DfES/DCMS School-Club guidance here
How
can we receive support for our talented athletes / performers?
Free Access for County Sports People (FACS)
If you are competing for or training within a County Squad you may
be eligible to access the local leisure centres in your area for
free. For conditions (i.e. age restrictions) and to apply, contact
your Local Authority leisure team.
Link
to local authority contacts
Free Access for National
Sports People (FANS)
FANS is for athletes ranked in the top 10 nationally (for their
age group) for their chosen sport. To help you with your training,
you can access sports/leisure centres (choose from a county-wide
selection) free of charge and also receive a host of other benefits
including discounts at sports injury clinics and regular updates.
FANS members may also apply for financial assistance.
Link
to Financial Support for Talented Sportspeople pages
Talented Athlete Scholarship
Scheme (TASS)
The Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, or TASS as it is better
known, is a Government funded programme that represents a unique
partnership between sport and higher and further education. The
programme awards Scholarships and Bursaries to talented athletes
that are committed to combining their sport and education. It aims
to reduce the drop out of talented athletes from sport and supports
and develops the talent of today for sporting success in the future.
National Governing Bodies of Sport nominate individuals for this.
More information on the TASS website
What is
Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) Status?
The Community Amateur Sports Club Scheme (CASC) offers local sports
clubs a number of significant tax breaks and the possibility of claiming
rate relief from their local authorities. The measures are designed
to help keep money in the grassroots sport sector and to help community
sport and recreation clubs secure the financial health of their organisations.
More information is available at www.hmrc.gov.uk/casc and www.ccpr.org.uk
I
would like to set up a new sports club, how do I go about it?
Clubs are usually initiated by a relatively small number of people
who share a common interest and when a formal club structure will
be beneficial to them all. When there is early enthusiasm to establish
a club, it is important to capitalise on this and move things forward
quickly.
There are three important things that need to be thought about:
- Are there enough potential members?
- Are there enough volunteers to run the club? (Please click to see questions on volunteering)
- Is there another club in the local area that is already meeting the needs of the sport locally?
Once there is a general agreement to set up a club, a formal meeting
will need to be called. During this meeting there will be a number
of things that need to be decided and agreed on. It is often worth
doing some preliminary work before the meeting, so that decisions
can be made at the outset.
There is a range of areas that will need to be thought about and
agreed on in order to set up a new sports club including a name,
constitution, club officials and finance etc. It is advisable to
seek advice from your local authority Sports Development Officer,
Kent Sport Leisure & Olympics Service Club Development Officer and/or National
Governing Body Development Officer. In addition, Runningsports offers
some good courses for club officers on a range of topics.
More information at www.runningsports.org
What
is the appropriate insurance for my club?
Sports clubs and organisations, as well as expedition leaders and
schools, must ensure that adequate insurance arrangements are in place,
this is especially so in view of the increase in litigation. This
applies to all those taking part in sport and recreation as administrative
officials, coaches or participants themselves, having a duty of care
and responsibility to ensure that anything they do does not cause
injury or financial loss to others, or damage to property. If they
do cause such damage, and 'negligence' can be proven, they become
legally liable to pay compensation.
Insurance policies are legal documents, and it is best for organisations to use a firm that specialises in sports insurance. In the first instance contact your relevant national governing body of sport who may have their own scheme.
Organisations should be able to show evidence of having thought through an event or activity and, where appropriate, have made a risk assessment.
Link to Kent sports-specific development officer contacts
Link to Kent sports governing bodies contacts
How
can I promote my club or event?
When promoting your club or event it is important to know who your
target groups are. What works for one group may not work for another.
It may help you to build partnerships with non-sporting organisations
or to find different communication methods. Plan carefully as you
may be targeting groups who either do not usually play sport or
perceive barriers to their participation.
Identify and understand the product or service you are offering.
What are the particular benefits and attractions of your club?
- Do you provide friendship and social opportunities?
- Do you offer coaching and a chance to improve standards?
- Are you an accredited Clubmark club?
- Do you provide opportunities for all?
- Do you have attractive facilities?
- Can you provide high-level competition?
- Are you conveniently located?
You
will need to decide what promotional methods you will use to reach
your target groups. Advertising could include: notice boards, posters,
free t-shirts, newsletter, website and local press. Social events
could include coffee mornings, taster sessions or open promotional
days.
It will also be worthwhile to contact the Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service,
National Governing Body and Local Authority Sports Development Officer
to see what help and advice they can provide you. They may be able
to assist with promotion through their own publications or websites.
If the club has achieved Clubmark it is likely that these organisations
will actively recommend people to join your club.
List of National Governing Bodies of Sport
Link to Kent sports-specific development officer contacts
Link to Kent sports governing bodies contacts
Link to Kent Sport Leisure & Olympics Service contacts page
What
should my club constitution include?
A constitution will include the name of your club, the aims of the
club, membership information including fees, the officers of the club,
committee information, finances, Annual General Meetings and what
happens on dissolution of the club. The constitution will set the
club's direction by identifying key members who form the committee
and gives certain rules as to how the club will be run.
It is advisable to seek advice from your local authority Sports Development Officer, Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service Club Development Officer and/or National Governing Body Development Officer.
Which club
volunteers should be Criminal Record Bureau (CRB) checked?
Think about the volunteers within your club who might have unsupervised,
isolated or regular one-to-one contact with young people. For example,
a coach, an official, a chaperone, a team manager or a sports leader.
The nature of volunteering in clubs allows for people changing from
one role to another. For example, this year’s fixtures secretary
becomes next year’s team manager. You should check anyone who
may have direct contact with young people at the club.
Consult your National Governing Body of sport who has a national child
protection policy which sports clubs, for that sport, should align
their own policy with. This will provide guidance on which volunteers
should be CRB checked.
In addition, seek guidance from the Coaching Development Officer at
Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service.
Other useful contacts include:
Child
Protection in Sport Unit
Criminal
Records Bureau
How
do I get CRB checks for my club volunteers?
Initial enquiries will need to be made through your relevant NGB.
Any screening procedures established by the sports club should be
used consistently for all volunteers who might now, or in the future,
have unsupervised, isolated or regular one-to-one contact with young
and vulnerable people. Existing volunteers can be asked to provide
the same information as new, potential volunteers.
There are three levels of CRB checks – enhanced, standard and
basic. The club will need enough information in order to receive a
minimum of a standard disclosure from the CRB. A disclosure form and
additional guidance on what to include can be obtained from the www.crb.gov.uk
You will need to submit the relevant information to the CRB for checking,
in the case of sports clubs make the application through your National
Governing Body who will be registered with the CRB. There is no cost
for screening volunteers with the CRB, but some National Governing
Bodies may charge a small amount for administration of the application.
List of National Governing Bodies of Sport
Link to Kent sports-specific development officer contacts
How do I implement
a club Child Protection policy?
All National Governing Bodies have a specific Child Protection Policy,
which should be the basis for any club policy that follows. This will
ensure the policy covers the correct areas and will be a guide for
the clubs operation.
The National Governing Body will have a designated lead officer for
Child Protection who will be able to advise and assist on the implementation
of a Child Protection Policy. In addition Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service can provide guidance and support.
Other useful contacts include:
Child
Protection in Sport Unit
Criminal
Records Bureau
We
do not have enough volunteers at our club, how can we recruit more?
Every community sports club is reliant on its volunteers, however
some times they are hard to recruit. The simplest way of recruiting
volunteers may be to ask individuals, parents or members of the
club if they would be willing to volunteer.
The Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service provides advice and assistance in
recruiting volunteers.
A national website www.do-it.org.uk was launched in 2001 with the first, and still the only, national
database of volunteering opportunities in the UK. The majority of
opportunities on do-it come from local Volunteer Centres in England.
In addition you could contact you local Volunteer Centre. To find
your nearest Volunteer Centre take a look at: www.volunteering.org.uk
Runningsports offers some good information and advice regarding
volunteers. By registering on the website you can download lots
of free information. For more information visit www.runningsports.org
Link to Kent Sports Volunteers project website
My
club would like to employ a sports coach, how do we go about it?
Employment law is complex and it is important to seek advice from
your relevant local authority or the Inland Revenue before employing
anyone at your club. Is the club best placed to employ the coach
in the first place or could the club make use of coaches available
through the Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service or National Governing Body?
The Kent Sports Development Unit has a Coaching Development Officer
who will be able to advise and assist you on coaching queries.
Link to Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics contacts page
When and where is the next generic coach education course e.g. child
protection, first aid?
Sportscoach UK and Runningsports workshops are designed to sit alongside
National Governing Body awards and help to develop your coaching knowledge.
These generic workshops are designed to promote excellence in coaching
and to provide opportunities for ongoing personal development.
Link
to Coach Education pages
Link
to Sports Coach UK workshops
Link to Kent Sport Leisure & Olympics contacts page
When
and where is the next National Governing Body coaching course?
Sport Specific Award qualifications are run by most sport National
Governing Bodies (NGBs). Gaining one of these qualifications ensures
that the players you subsequently work with will be receiving the
best coaching and the latest thinking. A further benefit of gaining
an NGB Coaching Award (usually Level 1 and above) is that it will
also give you liability insurance to cover you against accidents
that could happen when coaching.
For more information please visit the coach
education pages of the Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics website, contact the lead officer
for coaching or contact your specific NGB.
Link to Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service contacts page
I
would like to set up a Disability section at my club, how do I go
about it?
Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service has a dedicated County Disability Sports
Development Manager. Discuss your proposals with them before establishing
the section. You will need to find out if there is demand for the
section, and you might decide to focus on particular disabilities
– for example: learning disabilities, wheelchair sport, blind
sport etc.
Ensure that people within the club (coaches and volunteers) have
been trained to work with or coach people with disabilities. Again
your County Disability Sports Development Officer will be able to
suggest suitable courses or alternatively contact your specific
NGB.
Link to Coach Education pages
Link to Sports Coach UK workshops
Link to Disability Sport pages
Link to Kent Sport Leisure & Olympics contacts page
Our
club has been approached by a person with a disability about joining.
What is the best way to integrate them into the club?
Ask this new member if there is anything that would help them integrate
more smoothly into the club, and provide it where possible.
In addition, take advice from your specific NGB on any adaptations
they might suggest – some governing bodies have a national
officer dealing specifically with disability issues and as mentioned
above, take advice from the County Disability Sports Development
Manager.
Initially a ‘buddy’ might help integration – as
with any new member.
Link to Disability Sport pages
What
is the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)?
The Disability Act 1995 introduced new laws aimed at ending the
discrimination that many disabled people face. The Act gave disabled
people new rights of access to goods, facilities and services, as
well as in employment and buying or renting property.
The acts states that sports clubs need to make 'reasonable adjustments'.
It recognises that many barriers exist which make it difficult or
impossible for disabled people to use services or facilities. Making
a reasonable adjustment means taking action to remove or overcome
those barriers.
Clubs can make 'reasonable adjustments' to include disabled people
by:
- Talking and consulting with disabled people
- Establishing how accessible the club facilities are to disabled people
- Considering how the club currently promote its activities
- Increasing the knowledge of key club officials, volunteers and coaches
- Ensuring Club policies reflect an inclusive
approach
The
DDA expects clubs, to anticipate the needs of disabled people to
ensure that they are treated equally to everyone else and that they
will have access to services, facilities etc on an equal basis.
Sport and sports facilities are in many cases covered by the Act.
It is anticipated that the scope of the Act will be widened further
in the next few years and therefore; it is in club's interest to
address these issues now.
More information available from:
English Federation of Disability Sport
How
can I get funding for facilities, activities, individuals, training,
coaches etc?
Fund-raising is the art of getting money for specific projects or
club activities. There are many ways of raising money, including:
- Membership subscriptions
- Seeking donations
- Obtaining grants
- Organising fund-raising events
- Running lotteries
- Obtaining sponsorship
The
fundraiser at the club must know what makes the club worthy of support;
how to tell people about the value of their cause; how to identify
various people and organisations that might donate to them; how to
reach these potential supporters and how to get an immediate and
helpful response.
Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics provide a web-based funding database
and National Governing Body and Local Authority Sports Development
Officers will also be able to provide help, advice and support.
They will be aware of the major grant awards available to sports
clubs but may also be aware of more local opportunities or grants
that maybe available.
Link
to Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics funding database
Runningsports offers some good information and advice regarding
fund-raising, grants and sponsorship. By registering on the website
you can download lots of free information. For more information
visit: www.runningsports.org
Link to Kent Sport, Leisure and Olympics contacts page
Our
current facilities are not suitable, what should we do?
It is not easy to build a new facility and it may be better to look
at local facility provision to see if there is anything else suitable
in the local area. Contact your local authority Sports Development
Officer to discuss alternative facilities. If you are unsure of
who your local authority Sports Development Officer is please contact
Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics who will provide you with details.
Alternatively, take a look at www.activeplaces.com to search for sports facilities in your local area.
If it is a new facility you are building, Sport England has produced
a range of guidance notes detailing technical advice and standards
for the design and development of sports facilities. This guidance
should be used if you are considering a sports facility project
and particularly if you are seeking to apply for lottery funding.
In addition, consult your National Governing Body about the technical
specifications and strategic need for any new facility. The local
authority will also need to be consulted to establish if local strategies
and plans can back up the need for a new facility.
For Sport England’s detailed technical advice, visit the
Sport England website
Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics contacts page
What
happens if my question has not been answered?
If you feel that your question has not been answered, please contact
Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics Service Club Development Officer.
