VicHealth’s latest Active Club Grants are set to get more women and girls taking part in sport, and increase opportunities to play social sport across Victoria.
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As part of VicHealth’s long-term plan to get more Victorians living healthier and happier lives, Active Club Grants provide funding of up to $3,000 or up to $10,000 to community sport clubs.
VicHealth has prioritised two different areas of physical activity:
- Female participation
VicHealth knows the number of women participating in sport clubs is much lower than men. Our research shows this is due to a lack of suitable opportunities and difficulty prioritising physical activity over family, education and work commitments. These grants are designed to get more women and girls involved in physical activity, through new or recently established teams, programs, activities and opportunities.
- Participation in social and modified forms of sport
VicHealth will also be funding clubs to start a social or modified sport program that will attract more people to be regularly active. Social sport includes more flexible, fun and less-structured opportunities with less emphasis on performance, results and competition. Social sport can also be used to introduce someone to a new sport, or to bring people back to sport.
Minister for Health, Jill Hennessy, said the Active Club Grants program has helped thousands of Victorians become more active.
“This is about making grassroots sports more accessible to all, so everyone can get involved in the sports they love either as player, coach, umpire or volunteer. We want everyone to get active and embrace a healthy lifestyle, no matter what age or ability.”
VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said Active Club Grants are an important part of VicHealth’s strategy to have 300,000 more Victorians taking part in regular physical activity by 2023, particularly championing female participation in sport.
“We’re excited to be involved in creating more opportunities to participate, and encouraging women and girls who don’t normally participate in organised sport to try something new – activities designed specifically for women and girls.
“We’re very proud to support the role Victorian community sporting clubs play in enabling people to play sport, and become more physically active.
“Too many people still think that being active means you have play an organised sport, run a marathon or win a trophy.
“Our research shows that every step really does count, and anything that gets you moving is beneficial,” Ms Rechter said.
Special consideration will also be given to applications from clubs in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage and communities recovering from natural disasters.
All eligible clubs are encouraged to apply through the VicHealth website before Round 2 closes on Friday 10 March 2017. For further information or to apply online, visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub.
