Canoe Focus Autumn 2016 | Page 8

Changes to Quality Mark and Club Mark In 2014, Sport England started a review of its Club Mark accreditation system. In response British Canoeing undertook consultation with clubs around the country and carried out a parallel review into its Club Mark and Top Club brand. The new system aims to focus more on the quality of club activities, as well as the way it is run. Clubs can achieve accreditation in three different areas of activity: As a result, the British Canoeing club accreditation system has been updated to reflect the views expressed during consultation and will also remain part of Sport England’s Club Mark system. The new system will see the Top Club brand discontinued. It will be replaced with a Quality Kite Mark for clubs which is more easily recognised and understood by the public. • Talent Top Club – accreditation for competition clubs. Initially only available to clubs who offer coaching and pathways in Slalom and Sprint. The achievement of British Canoeing Quality Mark standard also meets the criteria specified in Club Mark, Sport England’s cross-sport accreditation system. On achieving this standard clubs will be accredited with both awards for three years. Alternatively you can contact your Regional Canoeing Development Officer for details about what’s involved and how to get started. You can find your CDO Here CHARITY CHALLENGE PADDLES THE LENGTH OF THE SEVERN Six volunteers from a marine conservation charity have completed a 222-mile trek by kayak and on foot, travelling the entire length of the River Severn. • British Canoeing Quality Mark/Club Mark – first class activities and club management • Paddle-Ability Club – providing opportunities for disabled people in paddlesport The new system was launched during the summer. Full details of the British Canoeing Quality Mark are on our web site and can be found Here The team, from Sea Shepherd UK, set off from the source of the river in mid-Wales on August 24th, arriving at the Severn Bridge near Bristol six days later. The team is aiming to raise £15,000 to purchase and equip a new fast small boat to accompany the charity’s current boat, Joker, who is now at an age where she needs to go into semi-retirement. As well as taking part in two campaigns in the Faroe Islands (2010 and 2011) and a campaign in Libya against illegal tuna fishing (2010), Joker has been a vital part of Sea Shepherd UK’s highly successful Seal Defence Campaign over the last two years. Joker will be kept as a reserve vessel, but she is not fit to go on full time duty on campaigns. 8 www.britishcanoeing.org.uk Canoe Focus Autumn 2016 For more information about the challenge visit www.sourcetosea.uk or visit the challenge’s Justgiving page to donate. 9