Harrow Cricket Club

Introduction

ECB Clubmark is the highest form of accreditation available to a club cricket from the national governing body of the sport. We were one of the original clubs in the UK to receive ECB Clubmark accreditation when the scheme was launched. We have continued to retain our Clubmark status every year since. This has been done based on our continued ability to deliver and maintain high standards as assessed by the ECB in the four key areas outlined below.

Duty of Care and Safeguarding Children

It is important for every club to understand that safeguarding should not be viewed as a stand alone process which sits in isolation from all other activities within cricket. Instead, safeguarding is about creating a culture which helps direct the game and the provision of services that are offered to participants. Safeguarding in cricket is based upon the concept of providing an enjoyable cricket environment that is tailored to the needs and requirements of children.

A Club has a duty of care to ensure the safety and welfare of any child involved in related activities, to safeguard them and protect them from reasonably foreseeable forms of harm. Safeguarding is about all of us acknowledging that this duty of care exists, and it is about us putting practical measures in place, in our own locations, to minimise the likelihood of foreseeable harm arising.

The Cricket Programme

The Cricket Programme (the combination of coaching, training and competition) should assist young players to realise their potential. Developing a competition programme is vital for young people as it is one significant reason why many join a club in the first place. Clubs are required to provide suitable intra and/or inter club competition. Guidance is provided on supervising young players and minimum player to coach ratios.

Coaching staff have a key role in establishing an appropriate coaching environment and creating a successful playing programme. Clubs have to demonstrate that all coaches have a valid & current UKCC qualification, are DBS checked, First Aid qualified and members of the ECB Coaches Association. The activity undertaken in the club must reflect best practice in the development of young people.

Knowing Your Club and its Community

One Game is the project aimed at widening the appeal of cricket to ensure as many people as possible are welcomed into the game at all levels regardless of age, race, ability, gender, ethnic origin, nationality, colour, parental or marital status, religious belief, class or social background, sexual preference or political belief. As the guardians of cricket, it is up to each and every one of us to hand our game on in better shape than when we found it.

The One Game philosophy applies to everyone, at every level from the playground through to our international teams, from players to volunteers and fans. The basic premise for this section of ECB Clubmark is to ensure that all clubs are aware of their immediate community. That way, a club can ensure it is meeting the needs of its local community when planning opportunities for people to participate in cricket.

Club Management

Clubs that are well managed tend to be successful. They have well ordered finances, and keep volunteers and members well informed with good communication. If the day to day running of the club is dealt with efficiently, strong links can be formed with external partners, such as sports development agencies and local schools, and relationships developed with the ECB to ensure that good practice is maintained. A well managed club plans for the future as well as being prepared in the event of an emergency.