After its launch this year, it was great to see so many clubs applying for (and passing) the new Club Check accreditation. Covering compliance, governance and all the latest legislation, Club Check has been design to ensure that all the essentials are in place for a club to run smoothly and successfully.

We spoke to a few of our Lifesaving Clubs - Droylsden, Melton Mowbray, Nantwich, Trojan, Universities of Sheffield and Wakefield. They gave us their insights on how they found the process and how other clubs would benefit from becoming accredited. 

What made you decide to sign up to Club Check?

Melton Mowbray: It is necessary for any Club to constantly keep abreast of any changes when teaching children and adults. 

Nantwich: The criteria is designed to ensure that all clubs are running safely with the correct policies and procedures in place. This is important to us as it means we are delivering this vital skill safely and effectively.

Universities of Sheffield Lifesaving Club: We wanted to be the first University in the UK to complete the new RLSS UK accreditation to the highest level. The Club Check has given us the opportunity to update policies and keep our committee details current. This Club Check will also help us stand out in the B.U.L.S.C.A community.

What steps did you have to implement to pass?

Droylsden: We had to ensure a certain set of standards and expectations such as safety, professionalism and ethical conduct were met. Quite a number of policies and procedures had to be implemented towards achieving these standards.  

Trojan: A lot of what needed to be done was consolidating what we already had or reviewing policies that we had set up a number of years ago. There were a couple of policies that were new, but having the templates provided meant we didn't have to start with a blank page. 

How easy have you found the process?

Droylsden: I would say the process was straight-forward once you had a clear understanding of the requirements, but the RLSS UK Club Development Team were always available for questions and guidance throughout the process.

Nantwich: The guidance set out by the RLSS UK was easy to follow. They provided step by step instructions with regards to the assessment criteria, which meant that it was easy to work out what documents linked with which criteria.

Wakefield: It looked a little daunting with so much information on an A4 sheet, but the fact that standardised documents were available for use made it much easier. I did initially I did encounter problems with the download/upload system, but I was able to request and return documents directly with team members, which was a great help. 

Did it take long to complete?

Droylsden: The entire process took us about one month to complete. It required commitment and dedication from the entire team, but it was definitely worth the effort in the end.   

Trojan: We needed to gather some information from our Leisure Centre and request our instructors to send on information. I would say from start to finish was about two weeks.

What was the support like from the Club Development Team?

Melton Mowbray: Our correspondence and meeting was very helpful in bringing everything up to date.  

Trojan: The team were excellent and very quick with their responses. It was really useful to have them on hand to answer any questions  

What advice would you give to clubs thinking of becoming accredited?

Nantwich: This is a great way to ensure you have everything in place to run a safe and successful lifesaving club. We would highly recommend completing the process to ensure you are operating safely and effectively. 

Find out more about Club Check

Contact the Club Development Team