Sales of Coles Community Bags to help fund Little Athletics

Coles has established a new community fund to provide grants for sports equipment to Little Athletics centres with funds raised from selected Community Bags.

As of this month, Little Athletics centres can apply for grants of up to $5000 to replace or expand their sports equipment for the upcoming season.

Funds for the grants are raised through the sale of specially marked chiller bags designed by Aussie kids. For every bag sold, 25 cents will be directed to Little Athletics Australia for the Community Fund.

Coles Managing Director John Durkan said the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund was a new and unique way to help grassroots centres, advising "Little Athletics is a fantastic way to encourage kids to stay fit and healthy so we wanted to help them at a grassroots level by enabling them to buy brand new sports equipment.”

"Just by buying our range of chiller bags at Coles stores, customers will be helping to fund grants for Little Athletics centres across the country.”

Coles Little Athletics Australia Chief Executive Martin Stillman said the Community Fund was timely for many centres, adding “buying new sporting equipment can be costly for many of our centres. These grants funded by the sale of Coles chiller bags will make a significant difference to so many centres who need to expand or replace their equipment.

"The Community Fund will also help Little Athletics to become more accessible for children of all abilities because centres will also be able to apply for modified sports equipment for participants who have a disability."

In addition to the chiller bags, Coles sells Community Bags which help to raise funds for SecondBite, Guide Dogs Australia and Clean Up Australia. All Community Bags were designed by school children as part of a bag design competition.

To apply for a grant from the Coles Little Athletics Community Fund, visit coles.com.au/littleathleticsfund