In 2003 and in their 40th Anniversary year, the Drifters RFC, part of Farnham Common Sports Club, have been awarded the RFU Seal of Approval and Sport England Clubmark for the Mini and Junior sections of their Rugby Club. They are the first rugby club in the South Bucks area and, indeed, the joint first (along with Bletchley RFC) Club in the whole of Bucks to receive this award.

The award recognises the Safe, Effective and Child Friendly service that the Club offers all it’s mini and junior members and is a testament to all those involved in these sections and to those that help out.

This 'Clubmark' sets criteria in the following categories:

* Duty of care and child protection
* Coaching and competition
* Sports equity and ethics
* Club management

The development of 'Clubmark' by Sport England (a Government sponsored body) has two main objectives:

* To ensure that National Governing Bodies accreditation programmes contain the core criteria of safe, effective and child-friendly clubs
* To enable parents/carers and sports professionals to recognise an accredited club through a common branding.

Bob Hudson, Ex Chairman of the Drifters Mini and Junior section, comments ‘we are particularly pleased to have been given this award and would like to thank all those involved at the Drifters and Farnham Common Sports Club for their support. Now that we have achieved this award, we need to build on it and to improve the facilities we offer children in this area, both on and off the field. This will help to ensure the future development of rugby in this area and who knows, we may have a budding Jonny Wilkinson or Martin Johnson already in our ranks.’

For more information on playing rugby at the Drifters RFC, please contact New Chairman Pat Spellman on 01753 663188, or come down to the Club, which is at Farnham Common Sports Club, One Pin Lane, Farnham Common, on a Sunday morning.

Equity policy statement
DRIFTERS RUGBY CLUB
The Drifters Rugby Club is committed to ensuring that equity is incorporated across all aspects of its development. In doing so it acknowledges and adopts the following Sport England definition of sports equity:
Sports equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access, recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them. It is about changing the culture and structure of sport to ensure it becomes equally accessible to everyone in society. The club respects the rights, dignity and worth of every person and will treat everyone equally within the context of their sport, regardless of age, ability, gender, race, ethnicity, religious belief, sexuality or social/economic status. The club is committed to everyone having the right to enjoy their sport in an environment free from threat of intimidation, harassment and abuse.
All club members have a responsibility to oppose discriminatory behaviour and promote equality of opportunity.
The club will deal with any incidence of discriminatory behaviour seriously, according to club disciplinary procedures, and therefore flushing the demon from within on Flushing meadow.

The Drifters Committee