Football’s national body will replace its Quality Club Mark scheme with a new set of programmes to support New Zealand’s 400+ clubs.
New Zealand Football has partnered with Xero to deliver the Xero Together Stronger — Club Support Programme.
It provides an opportunity for clubs, regardless of their size or location to:
- increase their governance and operating capability;
- improve their financial and planning processes;
- provide safe environments for all members, including children and vulnerable adults;
- understand and connect with their communities with a specific focus on girls and women and diverse communities;
- and of course, provide quality football and futsal experiences to their members including players, coaches, referees and volunteers.
The programme, developed by New Zealand Football, has three complementary parts:
- Business and financial resources: including templates and guides for clubs to use
- Education: access to New Zealand Football’s community game webinars, and Xero’s financial literacy series
- Accreditation: this supports the development of processes to help the club meet best practice, be sustainable and be safe for their members and community.
The Xero Together Stronger programme takes over from the Quality Club Mark (QCM) accreditation programme that provided two levels of standards for clubs to be measured against, to encourage alignment with the Whole of Football Plan.
Programme is ‘a one-stop shop for clubs’
Shane Verma, New Zealand Football Community Pathway manager, says the programme has the potential to be transformational for our clubs.
“It’s a one-stop shop for clubs to ensure that they are well set up to serve their communities, and in turn, empower their communities to get involved in the club,” he says.
“Particularly with our clubs being largely volunteer-driven, the Xero Together Stronger — Club Support Programme supports clubs and ensures that knowledge, systems and processes are not lost as committee membership changes over time.
‘Takes away a lot of the hassle and stress …’
The programme helps New Zealand Football to achieve its strategic purpose to enrich lives and connect people through positive experiences to build strong communities.
“We are excited to see Kiwi football clubs get the chance to digitalise with cloud-based tools to better help them understand their financial performance,” says Emma Scoringe, Head of Marketing at Xero in New Zealand.
“By participating in this programme, clubs will have access to administrative and financial tools that will hopefully take away a lot of the hassle and stress associated with running a club.
“In turn, this will free them up to focus on what they love doing — developing their players and playing the beautiful game.”
Xero Together Stronger — Club Support Programme replaces the Quality Club Mark, and is an outcome of Aotearoa United: Legacy Starts Now.
Key outcomes
Attracting strategic and commercial partners purposefully aligned to support women’s football; building national and regional partnerships that are aligned to Football in New Zealand: The Strategic Direction 2020-2026 and support wāhine, girls, and women in football; and ensuring that clubs are supported, are key outcomes of New Zealand Football’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ leverage and legacy plan Aotearoa United: Legacy Starts Now.
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