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Building on momentum generated by the health promotion foundation’s successful This Girl Can – Victoria campaign, the new funding will help local sport clubs across Victoria deliver more opportunities for women and girls to get active.

The grants will also provide more social, flexible and accessible sport programs as well as more opportunities for people from disadvantaged communities to take part in sport.

VicHealth will be supporting many local football, cricket, soccer, and netball teams to capitalise on the huge demand from Victorian women and girls who want to get active and play sport.

VicHealth has also funded some less common activities to encourage Victorians to get moving, such as a multicultural fencing class, a roller-skating program and a calisthenics team for mums and grandmas.

Minister for Health Jill Hennessy said the Active Club Grants program would help more Victorians become healthier and more physically active.

“We want to make sure that all Victorians – no matter your age, gender or ability have a chance to get active and enjoy a healthy lifestyle,” Minister Hennessy said.

“This funding will support our hardworking grassroots clubs get more people moving and involved in new, fun and social ways of playing sport.”

VicHealth CEO Jerril Rechter said the grants were about making sport more accessible to everyone.

“We want to support 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,” Ms Rechter said.

“We want to give more people an opportunity to get moving in a fun and social environment which is why we’re funding more clubs to deliver social sport alongside their competitive teams.

“Through our This Girl Can – Victoria campaign we’re seeing women across the state smashing old-fashioned stereotypes about what women can do in the gym, on the sports field and in our communities.

“This funding is about supporting clubs to enable more women and girls – particularly less active Victorians – to get active in a sport they’re passionate about and want to take part in.”

As part of VicHealth’s long-term plan to get more Victorians living healthier and happier lives, this round of Active Club Grants is providing 131 grants of up to $3,000 and five grants of up to $10,000 to community sport clubs throughout Victoria.

For more information on VicHealth’s Active Club Grants, or to see the full list of local clubs that have received a grant, please visit www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/funding/active-club-grants

Local case studies, statistics and interview opportunities are available on request.

 

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Media contact

Rachel Murphy, VicHealth Senior Media Advisor | P: 03 9667 1319 | M: 0435 761 732 | E: [email protected]