The main actions required to start an archery club have been drawn together in the Forming an Archery Club handy guide.

Before setting up a new archery club, are there enough potential members, are there enough volunteers to run the club and is there another club in the local area that is already meeting the needs of the sport locally? If there is a general agreement to set up a club, a formal meeting will need to be called. During this meeting there will be a number of things that need to be decided and agreed on.

You will need to agree/complete on the following items:

Club Name - This can be anything you decide. It is necessary in order to draw up formal documents and open a Bank/ Building Society account. You might want to do a check with the Membership Services office to make sure that no other local club has the same name.

Club Constitution - A club constitution is a simple document that outlines the functions of the club, procedures for members, meetings and committees. Having a club constitution will help to clarify how the club's procedures should work. It is vital that the constitution is open and non discriminatory and that it reflects the sport's equity policy. A sample constitution is available. Before the initial meeting it is advisable that there is a draft constitution drawn up, so that the group can adapt and agree it at
the earliest possible opportunity.

Club Officials - A club needs a number of officials to run the club on a formal basis. A Club Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer are the minimum required. These posts will need to be elected. Before the meeting it is advisable that there are willing people to take up these roles. The club needs at least three elected members onto the committee. There be other members on the committee as laid out in the clubs constitution. Many clubs will have other roles that people in the club may volunteer to carry out outside of formal club positions.

Affiliation - The club and members are required to be registered with Archery GB. Several forms are available to be completed by club officials. Membership is for individuals but clubs collate and provide the information and payments to the Membership Services office. Membership is paid yearly and includes among other things insurance cover, access to training courses, entry to competition and leagues (with County and Region fees) and 4 magazines per year. It also allows Archery GB to work on your behalf to help develop the sport, and to work together with other national and local sporting bodies and organisations in the development of archery within the UK. Affiliation to County and Region Associations can also be done.

Venues - Archery facilities, especially indoor ones, are hard to come by. This might be a school, local authority facility, or facility belonging to another voluntary group / club. Your local Sports Development Officer (SDO) may be able to help you find a local facility. The 'Shooting Venue Form' can be used by a local Archery GB Judge to inspect new venues to ensure satisfactory for archery purposes.

Other things to consider:

• Committees Meetings and Annual General Meeting - When and where the committee should meet, how often and it is at the AGM that the committee is elected.
• Finance - Income and Expenditure to run the club.
• Membership - Who is going to join your club and where will you get new members from.
• Insurance - Archery GB insurance covers all members and beginners for their first six lessons - click here for more. Coaches may want to get additional insurance through organisations such as sports coach UK.
• Coaching Qualifications & Criminal Records Bureau checks.
• Meetings / Leagues / Competitions - These are up to each club but the members need to decide what type of club is it, whether it is going to be a recreational club or a club that runs in house training and/or enters inter-club competitions.
• Equipment/ kit - If you do not have any equipment then you will need to borrow or purchase some. Local clubs and the COunty Association may be able to help in the short term. Otherwise you will need to access local grants or funding from sources such as Sport England's Small Grants Programme. Local businesses are a good source for sponsorship of local sports teams.
• Results / Public Relations / Press - You may want to build a website to attract new members and keep current members informed on news and results. It is advisable for a club to build up a good relationship with the local newspaper, to help raise the profile of the club. Often a local paper will run a story on the formation of a new club.
  

Further Information and Support

Further information regarding club development is available under Club Documents & Guidance. Also, Sport England's runningsports programme is available with practicle information on running and developing a sports club

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