The FA Charter Standard programme exists to positively improve people’s football experience through league and club accreditation and The FA are embarking on a journey to grow, develop and support a collaborative and sustainable club and league network which unites communities by providing opportunities For All.

They recognise and reward leagues and clubs who own their game. Those who play their part in making their football environment safe, fun and inclusive - by raising standards, raising awareness and taking action. Making accreditation worthwhile to be a part of. The FA Charter Standard accreditation is built to last.

Be the Best

The FA Charter Standard programme wants clubs and leagues to be the best place for your football community to play and enjoy football. Whether you’re a league or a club, it promotes your commitment and dedication and ensures you will be around for seasons to come.

Becoming accredited is a simple process, supported by dedicated County FA officers with local knowledge of clubs’ and leagues’ development. As a team, we ensure your ambitions are achievable with accreditation at the centre of all you do.

The criteria mean you commit to providing the best on-pitch environment by getting the relevant people qualified. This ensures you are structured to achieve your goals and are built to last.

Due to the impact of Covid-19 on the game, and the ability to deliver face-to-face education, The FA have introduced an interim criteria for the 2020/21 season. If you’re interested in achieving FA Charter Standard accreditation, or just want to find out more, let’s have a conversation, please contact your local Football Development Officer.

Stay the Best

For the 2020/21 season, The FA have decided to extend all FA Charter Standard accredited clubs who either renewed their accreditation as part of the 2019/20 Annual Health Check process or for those clubs who became a newly-accredited club during the 2019/20 season.

There will be no Annual Health Check process for the 2020/21 season. During October, we will move accredited clubs’ renewal dates forward to the 2021/22 season. We recognise the reason accredited clubs are the best places to play and enjoy the game is because of the criteria you adhere to and satisfy, season-on-season, even raising standards where possible.

Therefore, we have introduced an interim criteria to support your clubs to make sure the relevant individuals can still educate and equip themselves to provide a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all to enjoy.

Interim FA Charter Standard Club Accreditation Criteria 2020/21

For the 2020/21 season, interim requirements for the FA Charter Standard club accreditation criteria (coaching, first aid and safeguarding) have been introduced as Covid-19 has impacted on The FA’s and County FAs’ ability to offer face-to-face education.

Whilst long-term plans are being made to offer alternative, sustainable delivery models, it is necessary to make temporary changes. These apply for new and existing FA Charter Standard-accredited clubs.

We encourage all clubs to explore the opportunity to become FA Charter Standard-accredited. We want them to qualify the relevant individuals to make the on-pitch environment a safe place and put in place the policies and documents off-pitch to make sure they are built to last.

When the time comes, there will be an expectation and commitment for all accredited clubs to get back to, maintain or raise the standards and requirements which make The FA’s kitemark accreditation programme proud to be the best.

The FA have a clear vision to educate, empower, enable and equip leagues and clubs to be the best places for people to play and enjoy football. You can view details below on how to gain the accreditation, or see the interim criteria for 2020/21. Information is also shared on Twitter by @EssexCountyFA and by searching for ‘EssexFootball’ on Facebook.