Aycliffe squash club have gained the Bronze Accreditation award from England Squash. The Bronze Club Charter is an indication that Aycliffe squash club has a development program that will increase the number of adults and juniors playing squash. The club also intends to increase the recruitment, education and development of coaches and volunteers. England Squash are happy that the Aycliffe club provides an infrastructure that is child friendly, accessible and welcoming, with excellent facilities, qualified and fully insured coaches, who have all adopted the England Squash Child Protection Policy and Procedures.

The award has helped in a funding application to Sedgefield Borough Council's and Children's Fund KOOLKA$H' who have just agreed a funding grant to Aycliffe squash club of £2000. KOOLKA$H - the Sedgefield Borough Children and Young People's Development Fund is provided by and administered by Sedgefield Borough Council, with partnership funding from County Durham Children's Fund. KOOLKA$H aims to improve the leisure time, social education, life skills and participation of children and young people within Sedgefield Borough. Joanne King from KOOLKA$H has provided the Aycliffe club with much help and support and recognised the hard work the committee has been doing to encourage more young people to take up a healthy and safe sport. The club has been actively encouraging more ladies to take up squash by running fortnightly Sunday morning training and coaching sessions taking place at the Oak Leaf Sports Complex in Newton Aycliffe at 10.00. The club has seen ten new ladies, ranging from absolute beginners to previous players coming to the sessions with new arrivals every session.

Both England Squash and Sedgefield Borough Council have recognised the hard work the Aycliffe club has been doing for adults and young people and joined together with other partners Holloway's Ford and Aycliffe Physiotherapy to further improve safe and healthy squash opportunities in the Aycliffe area for everyone. Junior coaching runs every Tuesday evening between 16.00 and 19.00 (01325 300600 for more information) and ladies sessions information can be found by contacting Julie Bowtell on 01325 316128 for a chat and look around.