Cumbria Sports Partnership has become one of just a handful of organisations to receive a licence to award the prestigious Clubmark.

Cumbria now joins GreaterSport, Lancashire Sports Partnership and Merseyside Sports Partnerships as one of only seven CSPs in the country to award the quality ‘kite-mark’ for sports clubs. 37 organisations are now licensed nationally.

Introduced in 2002, Clubmark is the Sport England mark of high quality clubs, reassuring parents and young people that the club is a high quality, safe and welcoming environment.

The benefits are not just for young club members; accredited clubs can gain assistance in many areas from structure to direction, coaching and child protection. Through attracting a strong youth membership, the clubs can grow and develop, receive assistance in developing coaches and volunteers.

In the long term, accredited clubs should find that they have a distinct advantage when they come to work with local authorities and other government agencies.

Stewart Kellett, Sport England regional director said: “Congratulations to Cumbria Sports Partnership on gaining their Clubmark licence. This is a really positive move towards creating a fantastic sporting experience for all youngsters in clubs across the North West".

25 sports club in the North West region received Clubmark accreditations during April and May 2008, including Cartmel Valley Baseball Club,  Liverpool Speke Hope Handball Club, Worsley Golf Club,  Sandbach RUFC and Wigton Hockey Club

For more information  visit the Clubmark website