Welwyn Garden City Hockey Club

Welwyn Wasps is WGCHC's youth section. They have their own website at http://www.welwynwasps.org.uk

Club receives ClubFirst accreditation


After two years of hard work, Welwyn Garden City Hockey Club were pleased to learn that they had been awarded the ClubsFirst Accreditation. The team behind achieving the accreditation were presented with the honour at a presentation evening at Queenswood School in July 2007. Jane Kinghorn, project leader and the club's president Sue Lord were on hand to accept the award. On receiving the award Jane said: "Although gaining the ClubsFirst Accreditation has been hard work it has definately provided benefits for the club and helped us not only recruit more junior members but also provide them with an even better hockey experience."

What is ClubsFirst?

England Hockey is committed to developing a thriving club infrastructure as set out in their national strategy Uniting the Hockey Family. ClubsFirst is Engalnd Hockey's mechamism to provide a seal of approval to those clubs who have demostrated that they are fit for purpose and adhere to a minimum operating standard in regard to providing a 'safe, effective and child friendly' club environment.

ClubsFirst is aligned to Sport England's Clubmark programme. Clubs achieving the accreditation will be recognised nationally as providing a 'safe, effective and child friendly' club environment within both the hockey family and sporting network such as the school sport system, County Sport Partnerships (CSPs), Sport England and many more.

The accreditation scheme focuses on four areas:

* Developing Young People in Hockey
* Safeguarding & Protecting Young People in Hockey
* Sports Equity and Ethics
* Club Management

To achieve accreditation, clubs are expected to complete a development file, satisfying all of the criteria.

They will also have to host an assessment visit at a suitable club session - normally a junior coaching session. The accreditation lasts for a period of three years after which full re-assessment will be necessary. In the interim years, each accredited club has an annual self-review in oder to ensure that the club is maintaining the minimum operating standards of ClubsFirst.

For more information take a look at the wasps webpage - http://www.welwynwasps.org.uk