New Belgravia Kids venture gets Victorian Government backing to improve activity levels among children

The goal of Belgravia Group founder, Chief Executive and Chair Geoff Lord to positively impact the lives of Australian children through physical activity is to be backed by a Victorian Government loan to construct gymnastics and learn-to-swim facilities at four Belgravia Kids sites in Melbourne’s outer suburbs.

The new Belgravia Kids brand has developed an innovative ‘turn-key’ facility model that allows these gymnastics and learn-to-swim centres to be established in standard commercial and light-industrial spaces or on local or state government land.

The turn-key Belgravia Kids model means vital facilities and programs can be delivered, quickly and cost-effectively, right in the heart of the communities – fast growing areas in outer suburbs of Australia’s major cities often lacking aquatic, recreation and sport facilities.

The loan to create the first four Belgravia Kids facilities was announced earlier this week by Victorian Treasurer and Member for Werribee Tim Pallas during a visit to Grange P-12 College in Hoppers Crossing.

Announcing the $5.35 million loan to the Belgravia Group through the Victorian Government’s Community Sports Infrastructure Loan scheme, Treasurer Pallas advised “this will allow gymnastics and swimming facilities to be built in Hoppers Crossing, Noble Park North, Burnside and Bayswater, catering specifically for children under 12 years old.

“Learning to swim and gymnastics are two of the most popular sports for our kids. The new facilities will ensure locals have access to participate and be involved in the community.”

The upgrades will be funded through the $100 million Community Sports Infrastructure Loans scheme which provides low-interest loans of between $500,000 and $10 million for councils, clubs and organisations, to deliver and improve community sport and recreation infrastructure.

Since November 2014, the Victorian Government has invested more than $420 million in community sport and recreation facilities, and earlier this year provided almost half a billion dollars in the Victorian Budget 2018/19 to support sport and active recreation at all levels throughout the state.

Learning to swim and gymnastics are the first and fifth most popular after-school activities respectively in Victoria.

The learn-to-swim pools will allow a range of children’s swimming classes, supporting the Victorian Government’s commitment to ensure that all primary-aged school children can swim at least 50 metres, helping to reduce the risk of drowning.

Geoff Lord has previously affirmed a desire for Belgravia Kids to “positively impact the lives of a million Aussie kids each year through physical activity”.

Belgravia Kids is the latest venture for the Belgravia Group, establishing gymnastics (learn to move) and swim (learn to swim) centres in high population growth corridors to provide much needed facilities for families with children. 

With an innovative ‘turn-key’ model that allows these facilities to be established in standard commercial and light-industrial spaces or to partner with Councils and schools, Belgravia Kids means we can deliver vital services, quickly and cost-effectively, right in the heart of the communities who need them the most.