News
19/02/2008
First Scout Canoe Club gets ‘Top Club Status'
The Wirral Guide and Scout Canoe Association has achieved the British Canoe Union Clubmark and been awarded Canoe England Top Club accreditation. Both these prestigious awards help give the club public recognition of the high quality work that it does.
WGSCA Booking Secretary Alison Bell said: ‘We are, to the best of our knowledge, the first Scout and Guide canoe club to get this in the country.
'This award gives us equal status with other canoeing clubs in the region. Most importantly it is evidence to show parents and Leaders that we operate to a really high level, especially in terms of safety standards. It also means that everyone at the club is now getting credit for the work they do.’
The awards comes from Sport England, the national body responsible for creating an active nation through sport. To do this Sport England advises, invests in and promotes community sport of all kinds.
It’s clubmark award scheme sets the standards across all quality sports clubs in England and represents higher standards of safety, coaching and management.
The Top Club accreditation scheme is given to clubs that demonstrate a commitment to young people, along with the provision of safe, quality activity and coaching programmes.
Alison added: ‘Our aim is to take young people from an early interest right through to becoming a coach. At the club we get young people out doing skill work and team work, along with helping out at local events and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions.
‘The club gets young people off the streets and doing something active. It’s usually the non-sporty young people - those that don’t like football or tennis - that do the best because paddle sports are so varied that they offer something for everyone. Whether it’s kayaking, bell boats or open boats, there’s fun and adventure, no matter of age or ability.’
For more information contact Alison on wgsca_bookings@yahoo.co.uk or visit their website, www.wgsca.org.uk
