Important updates for Clubs – Governance

Important Updates for Clubs – Governance

Club Affiliation Update – April 2025

Swim England have provided the following update for all clubs regarding the requirements of Club Affiliation – CLICK HERE

Most up to date version of the Club Personnel Report Role Descriptor document can be found here

 

Good Governance Workshops

Swim England have moved the registration of the Good Governance workshops from Survey Monkey to WP Forms – please use the new links below to register onto any of these Workshops:

SwimMark Portal changes its name to ‘Compliance and Governance Portal’ – February 2025

Following the recent pausing of SwimMark, to prevent confusion, the Portal previously known as the ‘SwimMark Portal’ has now been changed with immediate effect to ‘Compliance and Governance Portal’

 

Club Affiliation Update – January 2025

Swim England have provided the following update for all clubs regarding the requirements of Club Affiliation – CLICK HERE

Most up to date version of the Club Personnel Report Role Descriptor document can be found here

 

Please note – SwimMark has currently been paused by Swim England – all clubs to now complete Club Affiliation until further notice – November 2024

CLICK HERE for further information

 

SwimMark and Club Affiliation Update – June 2024:

The Introduction to Disability Swimming CPD is currently under review and cannot be completed at this time.  For SwimMark/Club Affiliation submissions whilst the CPD is being reviewed, any Club that is unable to evidence a coach/teacher holding the ‘Introduction to Disability Swimming CPD’, will be required to evidence a Level 2 Coach/Teacher completing the ‘Introduction to Para-Swimming CPD‘ instead.  This CPD will show on the Club Personnel Report as ‘Introduction to Para Swimming’.

Swim England have also provided the following SwimMark and Club Affiliation June 2024 update which all clubs can access on the SwimMark Portal under resources.

Please note the following documents have also been updated:

 

SwimMark Update – June 2023:

Update provided for SwimMark Accredited clubs – Click here

From 1st November 2023 –

  • Element 13 – Club Personnel Report
    • Both the Club Chairperson and the Club Welfare Officer Workshops will become mandatory for all Club Affiliation and SwimMark Accreditation submissions – see here for more information
  • Element 15 (Introduction to Disability Swimming CPD)
    • will be removed for Full SwimMark Accreditation but will form part of the evidence required for Element 3 (Full SwimMark Accreditation will be reduced to 14 Elements)
  • Element 3 (Equality Policy) will be replaced with a Diversity, Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP)
    • evidence of a relevant person having completed the Online Introduction to Disability Swimming CPD (Click Here) will be required for this element.  Supporting documents will be available on the SwimMark Portal for all clubs.
    • evidence of Executive Officer having completed the Foundations of Inclusivity CPD (Click Here) will be required for this element.
    • will become a new requirement for both SwimMark Health Check and Club Affiliation (6 elements)

From 1st January 2023 –

  • Swim England Safeguarding Certificates
    • will be the only Safeguarding Qualification accepted by Swim England – see here for more information
  • Element 13 (Club Personnel Report)
    • Supporting evidence for DBS in progress or future Safeguarding Course Bookings will no longer be accepted
    • The information held on the Swim England Online Membership System/Club Personnel Report must be up to date at all times, clearly showing in date DBS/SG for those who require it (Click here).  Anyone in a role requiring DBS & Safeguarding, which is out of date or missing should not be on poolside until such time these are in place.

 

SwimMark Updates – April 2023

Club Personnel Report Role Descriptor Document has been updated – (Click Here)

 

SwimMark Updates – October 2022

Uploading Certificates and Missing Information document released – (Click Here)

 

SwimMark Updates – September 2022:

SwimMark Essential – some minor changes have recently been made to SwimMark Essential as follows:

  • Element 5 – AGM Minutes and Club Constitution Approval

    • Element 5 now has an additional upload required for clubs, that the minutes from the latest club AGM.  The minutes being uploaded are evidence of the club following good governance in terms of:
      • An AGM is being held as per the club’s constitution requirement.
      • The minutes show that a club has presented and approved their accounts, again another constitutional requirement
      • If the club has updated their constitution following approval from the region, this will also show as an item having been adopted which can be checked for consistency.

 

  • The Qualification Equivalency Matrix has been updated with a minor amendment to that of the Advanced Teacher certificate.  Following a review of the education syllabus, it has been revised to equivalent Assistant Coach Level.  It continues to be a Level 2 Teacher equivalent in terms of supervising.

 



Latest News

  • Swim Mark
  • Nov 2024

SwimMark accreditation paused as Swim England looks to develop new framework

Swim England have announced they are pausing the SwimMark accreditation scheme for future submissions as a new framework to support the long-term development of clubs is created – easing the administrative burden...

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General Club Benefits


  • Access to a development tool for club improvement including the production of a Club Development Plan
  • Identification of workforce training needs to improve club operation in relation to enhanced quality of coaching/teaching delivery and the running of the clubs (e.g. committee roles).
  • Develop effective club management structures and processes with clearly identified roles and responsibilities.
  • Access to a range of Swim England templates and policies, which increases best practice and improve all areas of the club.
  • Greater number of appropriately qualified volunteers, who are safe to work with children, young people and all volunteers, with defined role descriptions.

 

Financial Benefits


  • £500 from the region to be spent on workforce development
  • £100 IoS vouchers towards courses and CPD costs per annum (12 month duration to use the vouchers). Click here to visit the IoS courses website.
  • 5% discount on Swim England Awards and discounts at Swim England Club Conferences and events.
  • County Association Grants/Bursaries – Swim England North West Club Investment Fund
  • Some pool providers offer a discount to SwimMark clubs. The Swim England National Club Survey finding (2015) indicate that the average pool hire rates of £18.60 per lane versus average of £15.48 (17% less) for SwimMark accredited clubs. This provides a saving of sum £3000 per annum.
  • Accreditation can help with eligibility towards sport specific funding pots (e.g. County Sports Partnerships/Sport England Small Grants Fund).

 

SwimMark FAQs

Here at the North West Regional Office we get asked a variety of questions to do with the SwimMark accreditation. We have compiled answers to the most frequently asked.

Should you need anything else, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

 

 

SwimMark FAQs

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