The Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) has awarded funding to 472 sports clubs in Victoria to purchase sports injury prevention and management equipment, essential sporting equipment, volunteer training and portable sun shade through its annual Active Club Grants program.

VicHealth Chief Executive Officer Jerril Rechter said this year, $1.1 million has been invested in the grants, which received over 930 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 people and keep active for good health. We hope these grants will encourage community members to join a club, renew their membership, or continue playing their favourite sport.”

Ms Rechter added more than 9,700 sporting codes and clubs across Victoria have received Active Club Grants over the 23 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.

The Active Clubs Grants will this year work alongside the Department of Health’s Healthy Together Victoria (HTV) initiative, which assists in improving health and reducing health disparities. Of the successful applicants, 108 clubs are located within the 14 municipalities involved in HTV.

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

Please see the full list of local sporting clubs, including those in your area, that have received VicHealth Active Clubs Grants in 2013 by visiting: Active Club Grants.