Sport England - Clubmark
Maidenhead & Bray Cricket Club is the first cricket club in Berkshire to gain the valuable ‘Clubmark’ award from the ECB. Andy Hobbs (County Cricket Development Officer) made the presentation to Michael Parkinson (Club President) and other members of the Club’s management committee at the Club’s ground.
The Clubmark is a Sport England initiative, which provides a ‘kitemark’ of quality for sports clubs. It is open to any club that fulfils the necessary criteria. The purpose is to identify those clubs that have shown that they are properly and efficiently managed, which provide a safe environment for young players to learn and enjoy their sport, and which have a high standard of ethics towards all senior and junior members.
Elton Barendse, the Club’s Captain of Cricket, is enthusiastic about the award: “Several of the policies and procedures for which we provided evidence deal with matters which most clubs subscribe to, even though they may not be formally written down. Most clubs have a written constitution, but not much else apart from the annual accounts and a bar price list ! But there are several elements which we have implemented as part of the Clubmark programme which are matters we should have dealt with more actively in the past, but which we never quite got round to. All of our 16 coaches are properly trained to Level 1 or Level 2, and they are now also trained in child protection and in sports first aid. Members of our senior sides are trained in first aid as well, and we have proper procedures for handling any accidents etc.”
Andy Hobbs is spearheading a drive to get the County’s cricket clubs to go for Clubmark with support coming through the four Cricket District Development Groups for all clubs in their areas. There are Clubmark packs available that provide clear, straightforward guidance; these have already been circulated to all cricket clubs. Andy says: “Any club which needs another pack or requires further advice can apply to myself or to their District Development Group Secretary, or of course now to Maidenhead & Bray Cricket Club, where Bob Crawley (also Chairman of the East Berks. DDG) is keen to provide advice based on the Club’s own successful experience.” Michael Parkinson commented as he accepted the Clubmark award: “I love watching cricket at Bray, one of the most attractive grounds I know, and it is good to know that we are not just a pretty place – we are also thoroughly well managed for the benefit of all our members, and well able to provide safe and enjoyable facilities and coaching for our 300+ colts.”
Andy Hobbs may be contacted on 0118 939 9006, and Bob Crawley on 01628 633507.
