Grants help more people get active

THE Mt Duneed Adult Riding Club and the East Belmont Saints Baseball Club are among 10 local sporting clubs in western Victoria to share in more than $23,138.63 in funding to help meet the explosion in demand for grassroots women’s sport and social sport.

As part of VicHealth’s plan to get more Victorians living healthier and happier lives, Active Club Grants are providing more than $400,000 to 150 community sport clubs throughout Victoria.

The funding will help clubs deliver more opportunities for women and girls to get involved in sport, as well as providing more social, flexible and accessible sport programs.

The grants will also provide more opportunities for people from disadvantaged communities to take part in sport.

Mt Duneed Adult Riding Club will use its $2,782 grant to run mid-week dressage competitions allowing women to participate during school hours, rather than weekends; while the East Belmont Saints will use $2,469 to form a team to play in the “very casual” masters league, with modified rules to increase participation for those aged over 35.

Member for Western Victoria Gayle Tierney said the grants would make a significant difference to local clubs, with some now able to field a women and girls’ team or host a social competition for the first time.

“We want to support locals to get active and embrace a healthy lifestyle, no matter what age, gender or ability.

“Due to a lack of time, lack of confidence, and societal pressures, many residents just aren’t fitting the recommended amount of physical activity into their week.”

VicHealth chief executive officer Jerril Rechter said the grants will help more residents to make physical activity part of their day-to-day life.

“This program is about supporting Victoria’s grassroots sport clubs to provide a wider range of opportunities for everyone to get involved in including people who wouldn’t normally have the chance to play sport.

“Non-traditional, social and modified sports are also becoming an increasingly popular choice, and some of the successful clubs will deliver creative and flexible sports programs to help locals fit exercise into their busy daily routines.”

For more information about the grants, head to vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub.