A PAIR of sports clubs in Goole have achieved the East Riding Club Accreditation Scheme (ERCAS).
East Riding of Yorkshire Council has awarded 20 local sporting organisations with the honour, each group having to show they are well run and safe.
Goole Splashers has successfully renewed its level one accreditation, and Goole Town Cricket Club o
n Carr Lane renewed its level two accreditation.
The aim of the ERCAS scheme is to promote a quality club infrastructure, focusing on key areas such as child protection and implementing health and safety measures. All junior clubs must have qualified coaches and criminal records bureau (CRB) checked volunteers to qualify.
Goole Splashers secretary Val Longden said: "We are very pleased we achieved it and the East Riding were very supportive.
"It was quite a lot of hard work because we are only a voluntary organisation so we had to sit down and put together a policy."
She added: "You have to be fit for purpose and it is like being in a business."
The club was formed in 1980 and meets every Monday at the Goole Leisure Centre from 7-8.30pm with 60-100 regularly attending, including volunteers on the side.
"We currently have about ten volunteers but we are always looking for more who are dedicated and, ideally, over the age of 16 with any swimming ability,"added Val.
Goole Splashers caters for a wide range of disabilities - temporary or permanent - from arthritis, MS or limb injury rehabilitation to learning or sensory. The group actively fundraises to provide sport opportunities for people with disabilities.
It is also part of East Riding of Yorkshire Disabled Sports Association which includes four other clubs and runs an active social side to the club with events like discos, swimming galas and sports days held throughout the year.
Various swimming awards and achievement programs are also available.
Other clubs in the area who have previously received ERCAS accreditation include Gilberdyke Cricket Club, Gilberdyke Juniors FC, Goole Gymnastic Club, Goole Judo Club, Goole Netball Club, Goole RFC, Goole Squash Club, Goole Tennis Centre, Goole Town Girls Football Club, Newport Cricket Club, Parkside Raiders JFC, Pollington Panthers Junior FC, Snaith Junior Football Club, Ultimate Taekwondo, and Victoria Rangers.
Anyone interested in volunteering/joining Goole Splashers should contact Val on 01430 430881.
The full article contains 388 words and appears in Goole Courier newspaper.
