Game on! Grants boost for sporting clubs
Published: 6 June 2024The Victorian Government is backing grassroots sports clubs to break down barriers to participation and help build social and active local communities.
The latest round of the Sporting Club Grants Program is providing more than 400 grants to clubs right across Victoria.
The Program provides grants to clubs for uniforms and equipment that improve accessibility and engagement, projects that strengthen volunteering and officiating, new sport or recreation programs to inspire more people to get involved, and support for athlete travel to competitions.
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club will receive $1,000 to kick start a referee uniform library so junior referees can save on costs by borrowing uniforms instead of purchasing them. This also allows the club to grow referee numbers and build on the popularity of local football.
Castlemaine Goldfields Football Club Referee Co-ordinator and Vice-President, Jess Howard said, ‘Referees are a vital part of the game and we want refereeing to be affordable and accessible to all our members.’
‘This grant will allow us to provide our junior referees with uniforms to borrow and return each year as they grow, in the same way we provide our players with uniforms.
‘It will help our junior referees feel like the valued members of our club that they are and encourage them to continue their refereeing journey into adulthood,’ Jess said.
Newly established Geelong Sharks Rugby League Club scored $2,000 towards training for their leadership and volunteer officials in the areas of mental first aid and conflict resolution. The aim is to help club volunteers support new members from all walks of life to give club rugby league a go.
Geelong Sharks Rugby League Club, Damien Tangata said, ‘Receiving this grant lets us offer training and support to our new volunteers, to upskill and engage with our club and community.’
‘This opportunity will help our volunteers to feel more connected, involved and valued members of our club.'
'With the support of Sport and Recreation Victoria, the local community will have access to qualified coaches to help achieve their sporting goal,’ Damien said.
Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre (BRAC) will also receive over $3,100 to create a free week-night program for junior athletes to come and try the full range of track and field events, allowing families to access sport at different times.
Receiving this grant allows BRAC to coordinate a program that benefits new areas of the community and provides a safe and inclusive space to enjoy sport.
Ashley Anderson – Facility Manager, Ballarat Regional Athletic Centre
‘The funding will go towards providing valuable opportunities for juniors to engage in athletics in a new and exciting format,’ Ashley said.
In this round, the program is also investing in local athletes to help them represent Victoria on the world stage. The Australian Deaf Sports Federation received $3,000 for the travel and accommodation costs of four Victorian athletes representing Australia at the 2024 World Deaf Golf Championships in August.
The Program provides up to $1,000 for uniforms, equipment and resources that improve accessibility and engagement; up to $2,000 for projects to strengthen volunteering and officiating; up to $4,000 to deliver a new sport or recreation program and up to $750 to support athlete travel.
The Sporting Club Grants Program has invested more than $16.7 million to thousands of community sport and recreation clubs across the state since 2015.
By providing more opportunities for clubs and organisations to build on their capabilities, this program goes a long way towards future-proofing grassroots sport and recreation and ensuring clubs have the skills they need.
For more information on the grants and a full list of recipients visit the Sporting Club Grants Program.