Birmingham County Football Association actively promotes Charter Standard. Our vision is simple: FOOTBALL FOR ALL, this ensures that football really is representative of the wider community and that people are treated with fairness and respect, regardless of their background. The Charter Standard Programme is key to supporting this vision.

What are the benefits of attaining a Charter Standard?

• Use of The FA 3 Lions Charter Standard logo
• FA Charter Standard promotional cd-rom
• FA Charter Standard plaque
• FA Charter Standard certificate
• Umbro kit voucher
£50 for FA Charter Standard Clubs
£75 for FA Charter Standard Development Clubs
£100 for FA Charter Standard Community Clubs
• 15% Umbro discount
• Priority support with kit & equipment grant schemes
• Exclusive access to special events
• Access to free England Youth tickets
• Access to free England Women’s tickets
• Opportunity to promote the club as having FA recognition
• Helps to promote club to volunteers and parents
• Provides the club with focus
• Helps with funding applications
• Helps attract sponsors through increased publicity & promotion of club activities
• Discounted County FA courses
• Exclusive invites to Free County FA in-service training days
• County/Regional/National Awards programme
• Access to free FA/McDonald’s courses
• Access to Charter Standard Leagues

BCFA Extra Benefits

• BCFA Rewards Scheme
• BCFA Subsidy Programme
• Free entry to BCFA Charter Standard Clubs Festival
• Regular football updates (County, Regional and National)

Changes in Charter Standard Criteria

Additions to Charter Standard Criteria - See how it could effect your club (Additions in Bold).
The FA Charter Standard Clubs criteria is linked to FA National Game Strategy goals of;
• Growth & Retention
• Raising Standards
• Better Players
• Running the Game
• Volunteer Development
• Facilities

In 2007 53% of Youth football was played in a Charter Standard Club. The National Game Strategy after nationwide consultation has set a target of 75% coverage by 2012.

Listed below are the different criteria for the different Club Awards

Charter Standard Club

The FA Charter Standard Club Award is for clubs with youth teams under the age of 18.

The award is designed to reward best practice, aid delivery across the club volunteer spectrum and educate coaches and club officials to the minimum FA criteria:

To achieve Charter Standard Club Status the club needs to have the following in place:
Club Constitution/Rules
Copy of Annual Accounts
Code of Conduct for players, coaches, parents and officials
Equity Policy: To show equal opportunities in the club
FA Child Protection Policy: Appoint a designated Child Welfare Officer who should have attended FA Child Protection workshop & completed a FA CRB check
Public Liability & Personal Accident Insurance
Qualified Coaches: One Coach per youth team should have achieved Level 1 & applied for or completed an enhanced FA CRB check
Minutes from committee meeting's, AGM's and EGM's

*School-Club link established - clubs should have a link with at least one school. This could be an informal link to help recruit new players or a more formal link where club coaches may help deliver football sessions
*First Aid Equipment - club to ensure first aid equipment is available at all coaching sessions & matches
*One coach to have attended The FA Age Appropriate -Introductory Module by July 2009 (new clubs) or July 2010 (existing clubs)
*Regular Briefings - club to hold a briefing for players, parents / carers & officials at the start of each season to address acceptable standards of behaviour & promote positive playing environments
*Signed up to the RESPECT Programme
*Designated Volunteer Co-ordinator

Charter Standard Development Club

Development Status displays a club's determination and commitment to developing their club further and caters for the growing demands on its members to the minimum FA criteria: To achieve this level, club's must have attained The FA Charter Standard Club criteria plus the criteria listed below:
• At least five teams playing across four age groups
• A 3-5 year football development plan
• One club coach to hold The FA / 1st 4sport Level 2 Certificate In Coaching Football Qualification (Lead Coach)
• One coach to have achieved The FA Youth Award - Module 1 Certificate by July 2010

Charter Standard Community Club

This is the pinnacle award for Charter Standard Clubs.
The main focus of the Community Club Award is to become the centre of football within the local community. Achieving this award will require the full support, guidance and advice on hand from the Football Development Team. To achieve this prestigious award the club needs to have obtained the following criteria as well as The FA Charter Standard Club and Development Club criteria:

• At least ten teams ranging from youth through to adult including a minimum of one female team
• Mini Soccer Provision
• Boys and girls teams
• 5 year football development plan
• One person to have attended The FA Mentoring Course by July 2010 (new clubs) or July 2011 (existing clubs)
• One coach to have achieved The FA Youth Award - Module 2 Certificate by July 2011
• A designated school co-ordinator

For more information, please contact the development team on 0121 357 4278 (option 2) or email development@birminghamfa.com

Or write to:
BCFA Development Office,
BCFA HQ,
Ray Hall Lane,
Birmingham.
B43 6JF