The aim of the grants, available under the Sporting Club Grants Programme, is to help support coach and volunteer training, as well as the purchase of new equipment and uniforms. They are also seen as a way to provide clubs with a boost and to help them move forward from the impact of COVID-19.
Community Sport Minister Ros Spence said the grants will provide a maximum of $1,000 for equipment and uniforms, up to $5,000 for club operations improvements and $2,000 for training volunteers, officials and coaches, adding:
“This new round of grants will be vital in helping clubs get back on their feet and back in the game – helping cover the cost of uniforms, equipment, training and more.”
Spence said about $13 million had been injected into Victorian clubs since the programme was introduced in 2014, with 8,600 grants awarded. These were used for everything from new uniforms to training. Using printing services to make signage is one other way grants like this could be used.
The addition of the Short-Term COVID-19 Survival Package for community sport has seen clubs, state associations, leagues and other organisations receive a combined total of $50m.
Recent recipients have included the cricket club at Croydon North, which received $2,000, and $1,000 was given to the Sale Baseball Club. A further $1,500 each for cleaning supplies and COVIDSafe signage was awarded to Keysborough and Benalla Junior Football Clubs.