First Aikido club in Staffordshire to achieve Clubmark accreditation

Clubmark is a cross-sport quality accreditation for clubs with junior sections and is rapidly becoming the national standard for quality sports clubs. More national governing bodies of sport are adopting the scheme and over 150 clubs throughout Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent have now achieved Clubmark/NGB accreditation.

Sport Across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent (SASSOT) is working with sports organisations and local authorities to encourage more clubs to raise standards and join.  

Dragonfly Aikikai is part of Seijitsu Aikido Ryu. Dragonfly Aikido Juniors began life in Burntwood Youth & Community Centre in 1973 where Shihan Bayliss was youth worker in charge. They relocated to our current venue, St Thomas More Primary School in Great Wryley in 2003.

Dragonfly Aikikai teach the traditional Aikido in the style of the founder Morihei Ueshiba.

They are a friendly club with a loyal following and they always extend a warm welcome to visitors from other clubs, new members and people who are simply curious about Aikido

The club teaches contemporary Aikido, a unique martial art that originated in Japan. The art involves the use of strikes and throws to defend oneself against individual or multiple attackers. Their students range from 8 – 14 years old, male and female, and of mixed abilities.

They train hard and with focus, using safety equipment as required, but above all - They have fun!

Clubmark was introduced in 2002 by Sport England to:

Ensure that accrediting partners apply core common criteria to ensure that consistent good practice and minimum operating standards are delivered through all club development and accreditation schemes.

• To empower parent(s)/carer(s) when choosing a club for their children.
• To ensure that Clubmark accredited clubs are recognised through a common approach to branding.
• To provide a focus around which all organisations involved in sport can come together to support good practice in sports clubs working with children and young people.

Clubmark accreditation is awarded to clubs that comply with minimum operating standards in four areas:

• The playing programme
• Duty of care and child protection
• Sports equity and ethics
• Club management

Dragonfly Aikido Juniors stated that a great deal of work went into achieving this status and we believe it represents a positive step forwards for the juniors in their organisation.

Pictured above: Dragonfly Aikido Juniors

SASSOT believes "Giving young people the opportunity to experience the fun and excitement of particpatijg in Aikido as a member of a friendly and supportive club can be a major influence on a young person's development.  Our sports clubs in Staffordshire need to be accessible and welcoming to everyone."

Parents looking for quality clubs, whatever sport, are likely to seek out the accredited clubs awarded the Clubmark  status. The accredited clubs, of all sports, will be added to the list on the Sport England Clubmark and SASSOT website. They will be promoted by the Local Authorities in their publications, when approached by parents and with their dealings with schools and colleges looking for clubs for their pupils.

Clubs awarded Clubmark can be proud of what they have achieved. Parents can be assured that their children belong to a safer club. Members can be sure their club is a well-managed club, striving to offer the best in coaching and sports development. By striving to achieve higher standards clubs are likely to attract more members and build a sustainable future. 

The goal is for every club in Staffordshire to reach higher standards of safety, fairness, coaching and management.  That way the sub-regions sports club infrastructure will be safer, stronger and more successful.

Dragonfly Aikido Juniors are based at St Thomas More School, Great Wyrley, Staffordshire and train on Monday and Wednesday evenings 7-8pm.

Please contact Shihan Terry Bayliss for further details regarding the club;
Tel: 01543 683526
Email: terrence.bayliss@btinternet.com
Web:   www.seijitsu-aikido.org.uk

For further Club Development / Clubmark information please contact Chris Turner, SASSOT Club & PESSCL Development Officer on cturner@staffordbc.gov.uk or 01785 619681