Double lifeline for community sport
Tens of thousands of dollars are up for grabs for local sporting clubs across two different grant programs.
The state government's Local Sport Grant Program has allocated $50,000 for the Tamworth electorate and The Australian Sports Foundation have individual grants of up to $10,000 available for clubs nationwide.
According to a recent survey by the Australian Sports Foundation $1.2 billion in funding is needed to help local sporting clubs survive the crippling effects of COVID-19.
The global pandemic is likely to see the Tamworth Country Music Festival cancelled in 2021 depriving Tamworth based sporting clubs of essential revenue for next years season.
The government coordinated Local Sport Grant Program is open to grassroots community-run organisations for projects that will boost training for coaches, promote the sport or enhance existing facilities.
Grants range from $500 to $15,000 and should aim to increase participation, address barriers to participation or assist sports clubs to provide quality service to their members and meet community needs.
Previous rounds saw local sporting groups awarded funding for a range of projects
including $8,000 to the Manilla Bowling Club to upgrade the shades and shelters at
the end of their greens, Kootingal-Moonbi Swimming Club received $3,500 to
purchase training equipment and Lake Keepit Soaring Club have received $9,000 to
install solar power, water tanks, radio and weather systems near their runways.
The Active Kids Grants from the Australian Sports Foundation are targeted at clubs providing competitions for young adults and children under 20 years of age.
Patrick Walker CEO of the Australian Sports Foundation said this additional funding is particularly important at this time.
"Australia has had a really tough time of it, we've had drought and bushfires and now this year we've been hit with COVID-19, " Mr Walker said, "The thing is community sport is so important for peoples physical health, it's so important for mental health, which a lot of kids and young Australian's are suffering with at the moment, and it's important to bring communities together, so this funding is really going to help restore that sense of normality in these difficult times."
You can find more information and apply for the NSW Local Sport Grant Program here.
You can find more information and apply for the Active Kids Grant here.