First clubmark award in handball

23 May 2008

Liverpool Hope Speke Garston Community Handball Club is the first handball club in the country to achieve the coveted Clubmark status.

Clubmark is a kite mark of quality that has been developed in partnership between Sport England and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGB's) to ensure that all clubs are working towards being Safe, Effective and Child Friendly.

Liverpool City Council Club & Voluntary Sector Development Officer Martin Jones has been working closely with the club to help them through the process of accreditation.

He said: “Since my appointment to this new role in January, Liverpool Hope Speke Garston Community Handball Club has become the first sports club within the City to achieve Clubmark.

"They have worked hard to achieve this accreditation and it is recognition for all the work the volunteers have put in.

"We now expect many other sports clubs to follow in their footsteps and for those already accredited to maintain their status which will be the next step for Liverpool Hope Speke Garston Handball Club.”
 
The club is very proud of its achievements as club chair and England Handball tutor John Jacobson commented: “The importance to parents, players and new entrants to the sport of handball cannot be underestimated.

"Training with a club that is nationally recognised for its high standards of quality health and safety and integrity, with all coaches who are insured CRB checked and welcoming is vital to grow a successful club and to offer a safe environment in which to play sport. These are the benefits of Clubmark.”

Having achieved Clubmark, the Liverpool Speke Community Handball Club now intends to help other Handball Clubs through the process of achieving Clubmark status.

Find out more about Speke Garston Handball Club at  www.lhcommunityhandball.co.uk

Pictured: From left to right, Martin Jones - Club Development Officer, John Jacobson - Club Chair and Handball Tutor, Natalie Woodford – Sports Development Manager at Merseyside Sports Partnership and Katie Crozier – Marketing and Research Officer at Merseyside Sports Partnership.