The Football Association

Southern Amateur League

Amateur Football Alliance

Surrey County FA

Surrey Youth League

FA Charter Award

Carshalton FC were awarded the FA Charter Award for both it's Senior Section and Youth Section in August 2004, becoming the first SAL club to do so.  So what does this involve and what are the benefits for the Club?

The FA Charter Standard is the Football Association's "kite mark" for the administration and development of football clubs at all levels.  To achieve this award, the club must meet a number of conditions, such as...

Senior Section:  

• all teams have first aid kits and first aid qualified members, 

• the Club must have a written constitution, 

• acceptance and promotion of Codes of Conduct, 

• commitment to attending in-service training

• hold Annual General Meeting

• hold minuted regular Committee meetings

• operate formal discipline and membership procedures

Junior Section: 

• all teams must be run by FA Qualified coaches and managers

• child protection procedures and trained Child Welfare Officers in place

• all personnel involved with children must be FA CRB checked

• the Club must have a written constitution

• acceptance and promotion of Codes of Conduct

• commitment to providing mini soccer opportunities

• commitment to promote school liaison and equal opportunities for all

• commitment to attending in-service training

What Are The Benefits?
There are immediate tangible benefits from gaining this award, such as use of the charter standard logos, grants for kit and equipment, a first aid kit, access to exclusive training events.  However it is the unseen benefits that are of real importance – by achieving the Charter Standard Award, we have demonstrated to all members, parents and the public, that we are a well organized & safe club.  The 'hidden' benefits are also an excellent way of promoting our Club to potential members, parents, volunteers and sponsors.  Through achieving FA Charter Standard status, we gained funding through The Norlands Foundation to improve our clubhouse facilities.

By not only joining this scheme, but being one of the first AFA Clubs to do so, we have raised our profile in the local community, enhanced our reputation within the Amateur Football Alliance and established a secure footing for the future of the Club.

What Next?
Our plans are to advance to the next level of FA Charter Award - Development Club - by the end of 2007.  To achieve this, we plan to introduce mini soccer and girls football, thereby increasing the number of teams we run to 15 in 2007/08.  We are also looking at creating a formal link with a disabled football club. 

Actually getting these awards is only the start.  We are continuing to improve our processes and to implement changes based on feedback from committee members, coaches, players, parents and spectators.  We are also actively supporting our members who wish to train for FA award, including coaching certificates and first aid / child protection / football psychology training.

It has been hard work to implement all of this, but it has definitely been worth it.