Clubmark has changed!
ECB Clubmark came to an end in 2025 and is being replaced by ECB Accredited Club Status, as part of the ECB's new approach to supporting recreational cricket clubs.
Clubmark played an important role in helping cricket clubs demonstrate high standards of governance, safeguarding and club management. The new approach builds on those foundations while creating a clearer connection between Club Affiliation, Club Accreditation and ongoing club development.
For cricket clubs in Devon, Devon Cricket Foundation will support you through this new approach and help your club understand what it needs to do.
What is ECB Accredited Club Status?
ECB Accredited Club Status provides formal recognition that a recreational cricket club is committed to good governance, inclusivity and development, and to providing a high-quality environment for its participants.
Accreditation is designed to give clubs, members, parents, volunteers, partners and the wider community confidence that the club has strong foundations in place.
Rather than accreditation being viewed simply as an administrative exercise, the new approach connects accreditation with the ongoing development and sustainability of your club.
How does it work?
The ECB's new club development framework has three connected elements:
1. Club Affiliation - establishing strong foundations
Affiliation is the starting point.
Through affiliation, clubs establish the governance, safeguarding and organisational foundations expected of an ECB-affiliated recreational cricket club.
This includes areas such as appropriate governance arrangements, safeguarding through the Safe Hands Management System (SHMS), insurance and the other requirements contained within the ECB Conditions of Affiliation.
Being affiliated does not automatically mean that your club is accredited. Affiliation provides the foundation from which clubs can progress towards ECB Accredited Club Status.
2. ECB Accredited Club Status - recognising quality
Clubs can progress from affiliation to ECB Accredited Club Status.
Accreditation formally recognises clubs that demonstrate their commitment to good governance, inclusivity and development and to providing a high-quality environment for participants.
It provides assurance that your club has appropriate foundations in place and is committed to operating effectively and sustainably.
3. Club Development - helping your club thrive
Accreditation is not the end of your club's development journey.
The ECB Club Development Pathway provides clubs with tools, guidance and learning to identify priorities and make sustainable improvements across four areas:
- Playing Offer - providing cricket opportunities that meet the needs of current and future participants.
- People - recruiting, supporting and developing the volunteers and people who make your club possible.
- Places - creating welcoming, accessible and sustainable places to play cricket.
- Practices - developing effective governance, planning and ways of working.
Devon Cricket Foundation can work alongside clubs to identify their priorities and support their development in these areas.
What does this mean for former Clubmark clubs?
If your club previously held ECB Clubmark status, you do not need to continue using the old Clubmark process or Clubmark portal.
Clubmark has now been replaced by the new ECB club accreditation framework.
Devon Cricket Foundation will communicate directly with Devon clubs about their accreditation status, any transitional arrangements that apply, and any actions required as the new approach is implemented.
Clubs should continue to ensure that their affiliation, governance and safeguarding requirements are kept up to date, including maintaining accurate information within the Safe Hands Management System.
What if our club wasn't Clubmark accredited?
The new approach provides an opportunity for more Devon cricket clubs to work towards accreditation.
Your first step is to make sure your club has the appropriate affiliation and governance foundations in place. Devon Cricket Foundation can then help you understand the accreditation process, identify anything that needs attention and support your club's development.
The aim is not to create unnecessary additional paperwork. It is to help clubs establish strong foundations, identify where they want to develop and provide a safe, welcoming and sustainable cricket environment.
Why become an ECB Accredited Club?
ECB Accredited Club Status can help your club:
- demonstrate its commitment to good governance and safeguarding;
- provide confidence to players, parents, volunteers and the wider community;
- create a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment;
- strengthen the way the club is managed;
- identify priorities for future development;
- attract and retain participants and volunteers;
- demonstrate recognised standards when working with partners and other organisations; and
- access opportunities where ECB Accredited Club Status is an eligibility requirement.
Most importantly, accreditation should support the long-term health and sustainability of your cricket club rather than simply being an accreditation exercise.
Support from Devon Cricket Foundation
Devon Cricket Foundation is here to support recreational cricket clubs through Affiliation, ECB Accredited Club Status and the Club Development Pathway.
We can help your club understand the requirements, identify areas requiring attention and work with your committee and volunteers on your wider development priorities.
Want to discuss accreditation for your club?
Contact the Devon Cricket Foundation Club Development team:
| North & East Devon |
| Antony Cox antony.cox@devoncricket.co.uk 07375 323421 |
| South & West Devon |
| Ian McCombes ian.mccombes@devoncricket.co.uk 07939 016149 |
