GymMark is the British Gymnastics stamp of quality assurance for gymnastics clubs

The GymMark scheme has been developed by British Gymnastics, in partnership with Sport England and the Home Country Sports Councils, to provide recognition for clubs that are committed to providing quality gymnastics experiences.   Gaining GymMark accreditation will mean you will be recognised by British Gymnastics, Sport England and the Home Country Sports Councils as a safe, effective and child friendly club, providing a service in the community, that children and young people, their parents / carers, and others with an interest in gymnastics, can trust.

Benefits of GymMark 

There are a number of benefits of achieving GymMark:

• An excellent marketing tool for increasing membership - being able to demonstrate that you have addressed issues such as equality and child protection which gives confidence to parents choosing a club for their children

• Developing your club - the foundation for any club is its youth structure. So, by encouraging and attracting young members, you are building a strong future for your club. GymMark provides an excellent template for continuing club development

• Developing your coaches, officials and volunteers - as part of GymMark, you'll be given help and advice in developing the skills of everyone involved in your club

• Raising your club's profile - once accredited, your club will be listed with the relevant home country sports council and in other sporting directories, that will help you attract new members and to grow

• A reduction of 25% on club registration with BG

• To give parents and gymnasts the guaranteed assurance that their club is nationally recognised as Safe, Effective and Child Friendly

The GymMark Process

• Applying for GymMark is easy.  All you have to do is register your interest by returning the GymMark Registration Form to your county regional development officer

• A Club Development Support Pack will be sent to you detailing the criteria necessary to meet the required standards.  The resource pack is also full of tips and useful templates for use in the club.  Click here to download a copy of the GymMark criteria (Critieria and Assessment Form)

• Your club will be assigned a Link Officer who will provide you with support and advice throughout the process.  Some clubs may be in a position to be assessed immediately, whilst others may require more time and support.  BG is committed to supporting all clubs that are working towards GymMark

• There are 5 modules within GymMark:

  1. Development

  2. Duty of Care and Child Protection

  3. Sports Equity and Ethics

  4. Administration

  5. Training and events programme

• Use the Support Pack, templates and Criteria and Assessment form to work through each module.  Each module can be accredited as an individual module so clubs can prioritise the most important elements to them and work through at their own pace

• Once your club is ready to be assessed contact your Link Officer.  Your Link Officer will assess your club against the Critieria and Assessment Form and will be able to sign off a number of items on the form to state that they have seen evidence of them within your club.  However, there are a number of items which will need to be compiled into a portfolio of evidence, they are as follows:

  • Club Matrix

  • Codes of Conduct (x3 - ‘Coaches, Spectators & Volunteers', ‘Parents & Guardians' and ‘Participants')

  • Complaints & Grievance Procedure

  • Constitution or Club Rules

  • Club Action Plan

• Your Link Officer will present your portfolio of evidence and the Critieria and Assessment form to a National Assessing Officer for final assessment

• Once you have been awarded GymMark, you will receive a certificate and a plaque to display at your club.  The first 400 accredited clubs within England will also receive £375 accreditation funding

• GymMark accreditation will be valid for four years requiring annual assessments 

Frequently Asked Questions - click here for frequently asked questions regarding GymMark