To help you compile your final report, we have put together some guidance on what your entry should contain and an outline for its content.
Its format is up to you – it can either be a printed hard copy or in a digital form and can contain photographs, graphics and video to creatively demonstrate your club’s achievements.
Putting together your Heinke Trophy entry
As a tip to other clubs I would suggest you include photos etc and make sure it is all proof read. And enjoy the process - we didn’t realise just how much we had done and achieved until we wrote it down.
Anne Morrison, South Bay Scuba – 2015 Heinke winners
You can read more top tips from previous Heinke winners.
What your Heinke Trophy report should contain
Since the Heinke Trophy is awarded to the BSAC club considered to have done the most to further the interests of its members and BSAC, applications should provide the adjudicating panel with all the information and documentation necessary to make such a judgment.
It is appreciated that some clubs may not have outstanding achievements in each area so assessments will take account of branch size. The assessment considers the wide cross-section of branch activities listed under four main headings below.
In order that a genuine assessment may be made of the club’s overall performance, it is important that full details are given, and that the entry material is presented in the order of the headings and sub-headings detailed below. The format of the Heinke Trophy can also be used by a club as an audit of performance as well as a template for forward planning.
Your entry
Content: give a general description and short history of your club. Indicate the extent of involvement by club members in the design and preparation of the entry. The quality and format of the entry will be considered, e.g., its production, clarity of descriptions, supporting facts, inclusion of photographs, press cuttings etc.
Presentation: your club’s entry can either be printed or in an electronic format. It should be indexed and follow the prescribed order as follows:
Membership
- Numbers: Give totals of new and renewing Full, Junior, and Associate members at the beginning and end of the year. Are there any special factors affecting intake of new members or renewal of membership? Detail any specific action to retain interest of senior members.
- Snorkelling: Does the club encourage snorkelling activities or offer Snorkel Diver membership? Give details of numbers and organisation. Is there a snorkelling club associated with the branch?
- Administration: Details must include branch organisation, rules, subscriptions, committee meetings, AGM. To what extent is the ordinary member involved in the running of the club?
- Information: Communication with members, newsletters, noticeboards, printed dive programmes, use of email, social media, and branch website etc. Are any special provisions made for new members on joining?
- Promotion: How are prospective members made aware of your club? Detail any promotional action taken during the year e.g., advertisements, displays, try dives.
Diver and/or snorkeller training
- Water-work: Arrangements and frequency of water training sessions for individuals and groups, tests, and assessments of ability. Give details of open water training dives held for qualifying levels.
- Theory lessons: Lesson arrangements for beginners through to advanced divers. Are lessons run on a course basis? Is practical work on equipment included?
- Courses: Give details of courses attended by members which led to logbook endorsements and the number of members attending. What successes were achieved?
- Qualifications: List diver, snorkeller and instructor qualifications held by members and show how many were gained during the year.
- Equipment: Summary of club equipment, diving boats, compressors etc. Give details of additions and improvements in the year. What arrangements are made for maintenance and servicing? To what extent are members involved in this?
Diving activities
- Club dives: Frequency and organisation of dives and sites used: inland, coastal, boat dives. Were arrangements made for both novice and experienced divers during the year? What arrangements are made for risk assessment, safety, and emergency procedures?
- Expeditions: Give full details of extended periods of diving, branch holidays, special projects e.g., recovery (including work of benefit to the community), activities involving repeated dives at one site over the year.
- Scientific: Observation of underwater ecology and habitats, marine studies archaeology, surveys, conservation activities etc. It is not necessary to provide a formal report or thesis, simply list the objectives and results obtained.
- Competitions: Give details of club awards, e.g., diver of the year. Participation by members in local, national, or international events e.g., octopush, fin swimming, underwater photography. Include results. Was your club involved in the organisation or running the events?
General activities
- Club meetings: Are there regular meetings for members? Does the club hire rooms or own a clubhouse? Give details of facilities available and usage.
- Social: Give details of social functions, e.g., dances, held regularly or on an occasional basis. Have there been any fundraising activities? Give purpose and achievements.
- Publicity: Details of galas, displays, open nights, articles in local and national press, specialist journals on behalf of the branch, BSAC or another organisation. Does the club have a public relations officer?
- Inter-branch liaison: Give details of any joint diving or social activities held with other branches. Has the club organised or contributed to running any local or national conference or courses, e.g., Boat Handling, Lifesaver Award? Give details, purpose, and results.
Special achievements
Having celebrated its 70th anniversary last year, 2024 is now a key year for the BSAC strategy. For this year’s Heinke Trophy, we will be using the special achievements criteria to look at how clubs have celebrated the 70th milestone and engaged with the BSAC strategic plan.
This could be through: training/diving expeditions that have increased access to different opportunities; how clubs have connected with and supported other clubs or regional activities; conservation of the underwater environment, and how they have increased the skills and capability of their club.
Account will also be taken of other achievements falling outside the range of normal club organisation and events. E.g., significant purchase or building of a clubhouse, pool, or boat; involvement in local/national social or humanitarian enhancement; special major project of scientific, archaeological, or ecological nature; overcoming a major difficulty in forming, running, or re-establishing the club.
If you still have questions regarding your Heinke Trophy entry, then get in touch.
