VicHealth grants provide opportunities for increased community sport participation

Health promotion foundation VicHealth’s latest funding round sees $750,000 allocated to encouraging less active Victorians to participate in community sport.

More than 220 Victorian local clubs will receive a share in Active Club Grant funding to provide more female teams and programs, as well as social sport options for Victorians who are less interested in playing competitive sport.

As part of this grants round, VicHealth is funding a wide range of popular sports and activities, from grassroots football and netball, to less traditional sports like orienteering and canoeing.

Trailblazing sports programs, include Active Ninja, a gymnastics class for kids with intellectual disabilities or ADHD and a training program to recruit more female umpires into grassroots football.

Building on the success of VicHealth’s This Girl Can – Victoria campaign, a number of clubs will receive funding to promote the campaign at their club as part of a state-wide movement to get more women active.

The grants will also support social, flexible and accessible sports programs to empower more people in the community to give sport a go, regardless of their ability, gender or cultural background.

VicHealth acting Chief Executive, Dr Lyn Roberts AO said the grants will help bring more women and girls to community sports, while having fun and making new friends along the way.

Dr Roberts noted “Victorian women are half as likely as men to play sport, so it’s important to level the playing field and provide more opportunities for women and girls to take part in the sports they love.

“We also know many women feel intimidated to get involved in their local club, which is why we’re supporting clubs to promote This Girl Can - Victoria so women can feel comfortable to get involved regardless of their skill level or appearance.

“Last year our This Girl Can – Victoria campaign encouraged 285,000 Victorian women to get active. These grants will help even more Victorian woman to feel confident to get out there and give sport a go."

Dr Roberts said VicHealth was proud to support hardworking grassroots clubs and volunteers across Victoria to get more Victorians active and healthy.

She added “playing sport is so good for our physical and mental health but we know not everyone in our community has the same opportunity to get involved.

“These grants will help get more Victorians into the game by offering modified or social versions of traditional sport where your age, ability, background, lifestyle or gender isn’t a barrier to taking part.

“Active Club Grants create more opportunities to find a sport activity you love, so we encourage everyone to check out what’s on in their local area and give it a go.”

For more information on VicHealth’s Active Club Grants or the full list of local clubs receiving grants, please visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub

Image: Victorian cricket clubs are among the successful recipients to share in over $750,000 in funding from VicHealth’s latest funding round to get people active in our community. Courtesy of Cricket Victoria.