ABOUT THE CLUB
Amber Valley Athletic Club was formed in 1999 by some enthusiastic parents who had enjoyed watching their children take part in some local fun events organised by Amber Valley Borough Council. Membership and the clubs reputation grew but the facilities and infrastructure at it’s training base in Loscoe couldn’t keep pace.
Taking advantage of newly-opened facilities at the Rutland Sports Park in Ilkeston the club opened a new chapter in it’s history and relocated there in January 2006.
In January 2011 the club changed its name to Amber Valley and Erewash AC to better reflect the clubs training base Ilkeston, its catchment areas and work within both Amber Valley and Erewash districts.
Bringing together coaches and athletes of all ages and experience the club has an average yearly membership of around 200, and is one of Derbyshire’s foremost athletics clubs.
WHAT WE DO
We offer training and competition opportunities for athletes of all ages and abilities from 8 years old through to adults in track and field, road, cross country, and sports hall athletics. The club takes part in local, regional and national competition.
OUR MISSION
AVEAC’s vision is to encourage inclusive participation in athletics. The vision aims to grow the club for participation in all age groups, thus inspiring more participants to be involved in coaching and officiating in the sport.
The AVEAC vision will be achieved through three core actions:
1. Promote Participation
To promote participation in athletics from a young age to support children’s core skill developments of coordination, balance, independence and team spirit from involvement in run-jump-throw events.
To promote our club and inspire younger children (< 8 years) to participate in different activities.
To work in partnership with local schools through Sportshall events and Funletics events.
2. Wider-Community Involvement
To connect with the wider community to promote athletics and for sponsorship to support club developments such as kit, equipment, cabin, facilities.
To build relationships with local running clubs and parkruns to encourage more collaborations and opportunities for Masters competition and cross country.
To support local community events.
3. Club Community
To develop a club ethos to support and develop athletes and parents through developing coaching opportunities, officiating opportunities at competitions.
To encourage social events to build the community such as fund-raising events, e.g. annual celebration event or summer picnic / walk.
To support the welfare of our families through safeguarding policies and practices.
FUNDRAISING INITIATVES
As a charity, we enjoy our club community and participate together in a number of fundraising events throughout the year. There is a small committee who work together planning fundraising activities throughout the year.
In September 2023, AVEAC entered the Midlands ‘Cash 4 Kids’ initiative and had many fundraising activities from cake sales, best joke to also a ‘Road to Paris’ where, as a club, we ran the miles from Rutland Sports Park all the way to the Paris Olympic Stadium. Through this club activity, AVEAC won the ‘social media’ and ‘best idea’ additional funds so as a club we have been able to support all members with a kit borrow-box at competition, offer a supportive hardship fund and financial support to school children with training/membership fees.
In May 2024, AVEAC took part in the World Athletics Mile Challenge.
As a club we apply for funds to support the club members and this year (2024) we have secured funds from Foundation Derbyshire to provide us with a coach to go to our Heart of England competitions.
MEET THE COMMITTEE
The Committee is currently made up of the following volunteers:
JAYESH DAVÉ
CHAIR
JANINE BONSER
VICE CHAIR / LEAD WELFARE
RICHARD WOODWARD
SECRETARY
DAN HUMPHREY
TREASURER
CHRIS AIKMAN
WELFARE OFFICER
CLAIRE BRACKENBURY
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
ANDY MCMILLAN
MEMBER / FACILITIES OFFICER
CLAIRE DICKINSON
MEMBER / SOCIAL SECRETARY
GARY BERESFORD
MEMBER
RICH MEEHAN
MEMBER
SARAH WATSON
MEMBER
NICOLE BONSER
MEMBER
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of Amber Valley and Erewash Athletic Club is open to all from age 8 through to adult, with our membership year running from the 1st April to the 31st March.
Non-members are welcome to train with the club, however, we do strongly recommend membership.