Community sport and recreation organisations are set to receive $100,000 under the State Government’s Targeted Participation Program.
The TPP is open to community organisations and sport and recreation clubs to help increase physical activity of groups in the community with low participation rates in sport.
Targeted groups include disengaged youth, Indigenous people, seniors and culturally diverse people.
In 2020/21, funding for the TPP is administered as a joint initiative between the Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries and Healthway.
The Minister for Seniors and Ageing, Volunteering and Sport and Recreation Mick Murray outlined how the TPP program had helped and would continue to help the community.
“By engaging people in healthy, physical activity, the TPP delivered a number of positive outcomes, including increased participant wellbeing, resilience and self-esteem through connection to community.
“The program also supports the creation of healthy behaviours and environments and improves the understanding throughout our community of the benefits of physical activity – not only to one’s health but also to enjoyment and wellbeing.”
While sport is considered a valuable tool for strengthening communication and building bridges between communities, due to COVID-19 a number of sports across the state had to delay the start of their seasons.
According to the Australian Sports Foundation Survey, community sports clubs are likely to face multiple challenges in the months and years ahead, including reduced revenues and increased costs.
Nearly 70 per cent of small local clubs predict a decline in active participants and 43 per cent forecast a decline in volunteers.
The Department of Local Government Sport and Cultural Industries manager of community participation Cameron Agnew highlighted the importance of the TPP program in the recovery of social sports.
“It is important for us as a government agency, along with other departments, to look at how we support those persons and those cohorts that have been affected by COVID-19 and have been re-engaged in the community,” he said.
“Sport and recreation provide a great vehicle to enable that connection, and our local sporting clubs or community groups through this program, may be able to support those affected by COVID-19 by becoming involved in sport and recreation and becoming connected to their community.”
There is an annual competitive funding round for projects that increase the engagement of targeted participation groups and targeted populations in sport and active recreation.
Mr Agnew said there had been numerous inquiries. Many clubs and community groups have made contact to see if their organisation meets the criteria of the grants scheme.
Applications for the Category 3 grants for $5,000 close on September 28, 2020.
For more information regarding the TPP program, visit www.dlgsc.wa.gov.au.