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The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) has awarded funding to 521 sports clubs in Victoria to purchase sporting and injury prevention equipment and to train volunteers and purchase portable sun shade through its annual Active Club Grants.

VicHealth Chief Executive Officer Jerril Rechter said this year, $1 million has been invested in the grants, which received one of the highest ever volume of applications from around the state.

“Small community sports organisations sometimes struggle to buy essential equipment and fund training for new volunteers,” Ms Rechter said.

“VicHealth’s Active Clubs Grants recognise the important role local clubs play in increasing physical activity and helping communities stay connected, even when times are tough.

“Club sports are a great way to get involved, meet new friends and keep active for good health. We hope these grants will encourage people to join a club, renew their membership, or continue playing their favourite sport.”

Ms Rechter added more than 9,300 sporting codes and clubs across Victoria have received Active Club Grants over the 22 years VicHealth has provided this support. Over this period, more than 1 million club members have been able to access safer and better equipped clubs with more trained volunteers.

Victorian Minister for Sport and Recreation The Hon. Hugh Delahunty said the grants are designed to increase participation in physical activity, particularly for people who may be disadvantaged and less likely to take up a sport.

“The VicHealth Active Clubs Grants aim to increase participation in sports for all members of the community and ultimately reduce the incidence of illnesses related to lack of physical activity,” Minister Delahunty said.

“I am also pleased to see that for the first time VicHealth will give grants for defibrillators to 64 sporting clubs around Victoria. This will help ensure that local sporting clubs are equipped with the most up-to-date life saving and emergency equipment.”

The grants, of up to $2,500 each, were prioritised to assist clubs that cater for Indigenous communities, young people, older people, people with a disability and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and clubs in rural and low socio-economic areas.

ENDS

Please see the full list of local sporting clubs, including those in your area, that have received VicHealth Active Clubs Grants in 2012 by visiting:
www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/Funding-Opportunities/Funding-Schemes/Active-Club-Grants.aspx