Congratulations to WESTGATE BADMINTON CLUB on achieving BADMINTON England SILVER CLUB Status and Sport England CLUBMARK Status.

Westgate BC is the fourth senior club in the Tees Valley area to gain this important status.

Sheila Boyes, BADMINTON England Regional Development Manager - North East) presents Andy Baxter with the Sport England Clubmark Certificate and the BADMINTON England Silver Club Certificate at the End Of Season League Presentation Evening, held on Friday 11^th May.

The Sport England scheme is called 'Clubmark' and BADMINTON England have signed up to it and the standards it comprises:

The Playing Programme

Duty of care and child protection

Sports equity and ethics

Club management.

BADMINTON England have modified the generic Clubmark scheme to make it appropriate to our sport's needs and have called the BADMINTON England standard "Badminton Silver Club". The 'Clubmark' standard is known as 'Silver Club' within our sport.

The Benefits of BADMINTON England Club Accreditation
Parents looking for quality clubs, whatever sport, are likely to seek out the accredited clubs awarded the Clubmark and Silver Club standards. The accredited clubs, of all sports, will be added to the list on the Sport England website. They will be promoted by the Local Authorities in their publications, when approached by parents and with their dealings with schools and colleges looking for clubs for their pupils. The Clubs will be marked on the BADMINTON England website club list and on county websites.

"Giving young people the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of playing badminton as a member of a friendly and supportive club can be a major influence on a young person's development. Our clubs need to be accessible and welcoming to everyone." - Sue Sutton, National Development Director.

So, what do clubs get out of their meeting the criteria for Silver Club apart from the status and more children being directed to them by various organisations? The summary on the Silver Club Application Form provides many of the answers:

Promoting your club as quality badminton club

Helping to make your badminton club a safer environment

Providing support from sports professionals

Encouraging participation and badminton club membership

Developing your coaches

Developing and promoting volunteers