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Club Colours Registrations, Renewals & Management

Our comprehensive guide to the Club Colours process.

Giovanni avatar
Written by Giovanni
Updated over 2 weeks ago

What Is The Club Colours Award?

The BMABA Club Colours Award is the highest level of club recognition we offer. It represents full compliance with safeguarding, governance, and professional standards. Every club that earns a Club Colours Licence is immediately recognised as a 'School of Excellence'.

Clubs awarded this status also receive automatic certification from the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA) – a Sport England-backed project – without needing to apply separately.

Club Colours is only awarded to clubs who meet the highest standards. It offers:

  • National recognition

  • Real-time public verification

  • Inclusion on our searchable directory

  • Certification from both BMABA and SCiMA

  • Access to the official SCiMA trustmark

  • Marketing support via social media and paid ads

Why Should My Club Apply?

Clubs holding the Club Colours Licence:

  • Are recognised as a safe, professional environment for children and adults

  • Instantly meet the criteria for the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts

  • Gain priority exposure via our public-facing campaigns

  • Can use the Club Colours and SCiMA logos in marketing

  • Can access exclusive benefits, discounts and partner support

This is the highest tier of professional status we award. Best of all, it's entirely free. It always has been, and always will be. Even our free affiliate members can access the Club Colours.

What Are The Requirements?

To apply for Club Colours, your club must:

  • Be BMABA-registered

  • Hold a Regulation Ready Score of 76% (Bronze) or higher

  • Ensure all actively teaching staff (instructors, assistants, and volunteers) are fully verified through MyBMABA

  • Clearly display your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) information on your club’s website

Previously, before September 2025, applying for Club Colours required a long and often disjointed list of separate policies, checks, and forms to be submitted specifically for the award. That process has now been fully streamlined through the integrated Regulation Ready system. You can work toward compliance gradually by ‘chipping away’ at tasks in your own time. As a result, when it comes to applying for Club Colours, most clubs will already have everything in place automatically. And if you don’t, reaching the standard will mean you’re awarded both Regulation Ready and Club Colours simultaneously – a double recognition of your high standards.

Public Safeguarding Information

You must show safeguarding information clearly on your website. This is a condition of both Club Colours and the Safeguarding Code.

This is the single biggest reason clubs fail to be awarded SCiMA certification or have their Colours suspended. It is compulsory, and it is checked for each application.

As part of your Club Colours Licence and to meet the requirements of the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA), your club must clearly display safeguarding information on your public website.

This must include:

  1. Your Club’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

    • Full name

    • Role/title (e.g. Designated Safeguarding Lead)

    • Contact email or phone number

    • A clear, professional photograph of the DSL

  2. A Statement About BMABA’s Safeguarding Role:

    You must include the following text (or a close variation):

    "We are a registered member of BMABA CIC, who act as our Safeguarding Governing Body. BMABA can be contacted independently for any safeguarding concerns at [email protected] or via 01798 306546."

  3. Placement On Your Website:

    This information must be:

    • Clearly visible and accessible to the public

    • Located in either:

      • The footer of every page on your website
        OR

      • A dedicated menu link titled “Safeguarding” (can be nested under “About Us” or similar)

We audit 1 in 2 Club Colours applications to ensure this is visible and accurate. SCiMA will also verify this as part of their national safeguarding requirements. If your safeguarding information is not easy to find, your Club Colours Licence will be suspended.

If you're unsure, use BMABA as your DSL – free of charge – and we’ll provide the required content for your site.

How To Apply

The application process is designed to be fast, transparent, and fully automated. Here’s how to apply:

  1. Visit the Club Colours Dashboard
    Go to mybmaba.org.uk/portal/colours and log in to your account.

  2. Check Your Eligibility
    If your club meets the minimum requirements (including a Regulation Ready Score of 76% or higher), an “Apply” button will appear automatically. If it doesn't show, you’ll see which areas still need attention.

  3. Complete the On-Screen Steps
    The application form will guide you through the following:

    • Confirm your club website address and verify that the required safeguarding details are clearly published

    • Review your team’s vetting status to ensure all instructors, assistants, and volunteers are fully verified

    • Confirm that you, as the lead instructor, are individually Club Colours Licenced

    • Accept the terms and conditions, including permissions to share safeguarding info with SCiMA or external agencies where required

  4. Receive Instant Approval
    Once all steps are completed, your Club Colours Licence will be issued immediately – there’s no waiting or manual review required.

  5. Access Your Certification & Trustmark
    You’ll be redirected to a confirmation page and then returned to the dashboard, where you can:

    • Download your official BMABA Club Colours Certificate

    • Access your School of Excellence trustmark

    • View your club’s public verification record in real time

SCiMA typically reviews all newly issued Club Colours Licences on a twice-weekly basis. Once your club has been reviewed and approved, you'll be able to download your SCiMA certification and accreditation marks directly from the Club Colours Dashboard. We recommend checking back regularly to see when this becomes available.

If your club already holds SCiMA certification and you’re now applying for Club Colours, please jump onto our website live chat to let us know. We’ll politely notify the SCiMA team to combine your records, which usually helps speed up the process.

SCiMA Certification (The Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts)

Once Club Colours is issued, we automatically notify SCiMA. They will review and approve your account, usually within 7 working days.

You’ll receive:

  • A Sport England-approved Safeguarding Code certificate

  • Access to the official trustmark

  • Inclusion on the national safeguarding register

Already SCiMA certified? That’s fine – just let us know once you’ve applied. We’ll liaise with SCiMA to merge your new application with your existing record.

What If My Club Doesn’t Meet The Requirements Yet?

Not every club will be ready to apply for Club Colours immediately – and that’s absolutely fine.

Your Club Colours eligibility is based on three key criteria:

  1. Your Regulation Ready Score
    Your club must hold a minimum Regulation Ready Score of 76% (Bronze level) or higher. This score reflects your overall compliance across key governance areas such as safeguarding, insurance, policies, and legal structure.

  2. Your Team’s Individual Vetting Status
    Every active instructor, assistant, and volunteer linked to your club must be fully verified through MyBMABA. This includes:

    • Enhanced DBS check (where applicable)

    • Valid First Aid qualification

    • Safeguarding qualification

    • Identity verification

    • Instructor insurance (if teaching independently)

  3. Website Safeguarding Compliance
    Your public-facing website must clearly display:

    • A named Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) with a photo and contact info

    • BMABA’s safeguarding contact details

    • A footer link or dedicated menu item titled “Safeguarding” that links to this information

Progressing Towards Eligibility

You don’t need to complete everything in one go.

The Regulation Ready system allows you to work through each area at your own pace – completing one item at a time. As you progress, your compliance score updates in real time.

This means there’s no need to chase paperwork, and no need to resubmit anything. The system tracks your club’s readiness automatically.

Once your Regulation Ready Score is above 76% and all instructors, assistants, and volunteers are fully verified, the “Apply” button for Club Colours will appear on your dashboard.

If your website already meets the safeguarding display requirements, you’ll be able to apply instantly. If not, you’ll be prompted to make the necessary updates.

Bonus: Dual Recognition

If you're working toward Regulation Ready and haven’t yet applied for Club Colours, reaching Bronze level (76%+) gives you dual benefit.


Once complete, you’ll be awarded both:

  • A Regulation Ready Accreditation, and

  • The BMABA Club Colours Licence
    All in one smooth process.

This ensures that clubs working to high standards are fully recognised across the board, without duplicate admin or delays.

If you're unsure about your current eligibility or need help improving your score, our team is always on hand to assist.

What If I Add a New Instructor, Assistant, or Volunteer – or Evidence Expires?

If you add a new team member (instructor, assistant instructor, or volunteer), or if any existing team member has an expired or unverified check (such as DBS, First Aid, or insurance), your Club Colours Licence will automatically enter a Pending Review state.

This is part of our compliance safeguard system and ensures clubs remain fully up to date without being unfairly penalised for growing or changing their teams.

What Happens During Pending Review?

  • Your public status remains unaffected – you will still appear as “Active” on all public registers and SCiMA listings.

  • Your SCiMA certification and record will also remain active during this period.

  • You will be given 14 days to resolve the non-conformities (e.g. expired evidence or a newly added but unverified team member).

  • Our system checks your club’s compliance status twice daily. If all requirements are met again, your licence will automatically return to full Active status.

  • You’re also welcome to click “Reapply” or contact our team to trigger a manual reconfirmation at any time – no issue at all.

Can I Extend the 14-Day Window?

Yes. If you're aware that a required document (such as a DBS check) has been applied for but is taking longer than 14 days to return, please let us know.

If we can confirm that the evidence is in progress – for example, submitted through our vetting team – we can usually extend your Pending Review period to prevent unnecessary disruption.

Temporarily Removing Someone From Compliance

If you’re onboarding a new instructor, assistant, or volunteer who isn’t actively teaching yet or isn’t working with children or at-risk adults, you can mark them accordingly in your account.

This can be done from the Verification Settings page here:
👉 https://mybmaba.org.uk/essentials/verify-your-account/

This will:

  • Exclude the individual from Club Colours compliance checks

  • Prevent their status from triggering a Pending Review for the whole club

  • Allow you to onboard new or returning team members (e.g. students back from university) without disrupting your Club Colours Licence

Once you’re ready to verify their compliance fully, simply update their teaching status to reintroduce them into the verification system.

Club Colours Certification & Dashboard

Once your Club Colours Licence is active, your central point of control is the Club Colours Dashboard. This area gives you real-time access to everything you need to manage and promote your award status.

From the dashboard, you can:

1. Download Your BMABA Club Colours Certificate

This certificate confirms your club’s award of the BMABA Club Colours Licence and its recognition as a ‘School of Excellence’. It’s date-stamped and includes your unique licence number. You can use this for display in your venue, on your website, or when working with schools, local authorities, or grant providers.

2. Download Your SCiMA Certificate (Once Issued)

Once the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA) team has completed their review, your official SCiMA certificate will also appear on your dashboard. This is a Sport England-recognised document and is a nationally respected safeguarding endorsement. SCiMA typically reviews new Club Colours holders twice weekly.

📌 Tip: Check your dashboard regularly after activation to see when this becomes available.

3. Access Your Live Public Register Entry

Your club will automatically be listed on BMABA’s national Club Colours register, which is publicly accessible 24/7. This real-time entry confirms your Club Colours status, includes your club name, and links to verified instructor and safeguarding information.

You can link to your listing from your website, email signature, or printed materials to demonstrate compliance and credibility.

4. Download Your Club Colours Trustmark & Marketing Graphics

The dashboard provides access to the official BMABA Club Colours trustmark, designed for digital and print use. You can also download optional graphic banners and assets to help showcase your status on social media, marketing materials, or your club website.

These graphics are fully licensed for use while your Club Colours Licence remains active.

Who Funds The Club Colours Scheme?

The Club Colours Award is 100% funded and operated by BMABA CIC.

We receive no external funding or subsidies from Sport England, SCiMA, or any other public or private body to run this programme.

Everything you see within the Club Colours scheme – including:

  • The platform development

  • Twice-daily automated vetting tools

  • Integration with the Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA)

  • Live public register access

  • Instant certification and trustmark issuance

  • Direct liaison with SCiMA on behalf of clubs

  • Ongoing national marketing and promotion for accredited clubs

...is funded entirely by BMABA through membership fees.

That means every active BMABA member is directly supporting this initiative – helping to raise national safeguarding standards, increase public trust in martial arts, and create a safe and professional space for students across the UK.

We created Club Colours because we believe that safeguarding, compliance, and governance should not be optional or paywalled. They should be a visible and attainable gold standard for every credible club – and our members make that possible.

When you see a Club Colours licensed club, you're not just seeing a mark of excellence. You're seeing the collective power of community-driven safeguarding, funded by instructors and organisations committed to doing things properly.

Suspensions & Expiry

Your Club Colours Licence is a live, compliance-based accreditation – and like all high-level governance awards, it requires ongoing oversight.

We will usually contact clubs 60 days before their Club Colours Licence is due to expire, prompting you to log in and review your evidence. However, this reminder should not be relied upon. Likewise, if your licence moves from Active to Pending Review due to expired or missing evidence, you may not receive an automatic notification.

For this reason, we strongly recommend that you log in to MyBMABA at least once a week to check your Club Colours status. You can quickly view your current status from:

Please be aware:
We reserve the right to suspend Club Colours licences without prior notice where there is a failure to meet required standards. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Evidence (such as DBS checks or safeguarding qualifications) becoming expired or unverified

  • Website non-conformity (e.g. missing or removed safeguarding information)

Our system will usually detect these issues automatically and place your licence in suspension if no corrective action is taken.

We recommend you treat your Club Colours Licence as a living, breathing part of your club’s professional foundation. Just like insurance or safeguarding training, it requires ongoing attention and regular checks to ensure your club remains compliant, recognised, and trusted by the public.

Your Club Colours Licence is directly tied to your active BMABA membership. If your membership expires or is not renewed, your Club Colours Licence will automatically expire at the same time. Once expired, the licence is no longer valid or recognised, and you must immediately cease all use of:

  • The BMABA Club Colours trustmark or certificate

  • The Safeguarding Code in Martial Arts (SCiMA) mark or certificate (if issued via BMABA)

Continued use of any marks, branding, or materials relating to Club Colours or SCiMA after your membership has lapsed may be considered a misrepresentation of your club’s safeguarding status.


For this reason, please ensure your BMABA membership remains active if you wish to maintain your Club Colours accreditation.

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