KKP manages Clubmark in England on behalf of Sport England. Having delivered an initial contract to evaluate, improve and modernise the pre-existing scheme in 2005 we were appointed to run Clubmark in April 2006.

We have taken the initial ‘raw' product and developed it into what is now acknowledged to be a robust, reliable, genuinely defensible quality scheme. It has measurably improved the quality of junior sports clubs and increased the number of young people participating in active, accessible, accredited environments.

(image) Building on lessons learned in England, KKP will assist Sport Northern Ireland to ensure that Clubmark NI is rapidly and effectively embedded as a tool for club development. We shall also ensure that it is woven into other related strategic sports processes, thus helping to make a significant contribution to the achievement of wider development outcomes.

Accreditation - integral to club development

Sports clubs play an essential and significant role in the development of sport across the Province. The Northern Ireland Draft Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation ‘Sport Matters' outlines the importance of the role of clubs and points to the identification and accreditation of 1,200 quality sports clubs as a key component of delivering success.

The introduction of Clubmark NI will raise standards of coaching, competition and management in sports clubs across Northern Ireland using the sport accreditation programme as a tool for development.

KKP's role will primarily be to act as a critical friend, providing guidance and a framework to enable Sport Northern Ireland staff to manage scheme introduction and roll out, allocate appropriate resources and personnel and via provision of training support and facilitating the Clubmark NI external verification process.

Clare MacLeod, KKP's club accreditation guru will lead the team responsible for providing this support package, bringing her experience as England's National Clubmark Manager as well as an excellent knowledge of sport in Northern Ireland. She is currently working with Derry City Council and several NGBs on a sports development plan for the North West Regional Performance Centre in the City and she also supported development of the Bangor 50m pool.

Find out more about KKP's involvement in Clubmark

Find out more about Clubmark NI