Auckland Council is inviting sports organisations to apply for a share of a $836,000 fund through the Sport and Recreation Regional Programme Grant 2024 & 2025.
The grant focuses primarily on enabling affordable access to sport and recreation activities for children, young people and inactive communities.
Chair of the Planning, Environment and Parks Committee, Councillor Richard Hills says the grant supports sport and recreation sector organisations in their efforts to inspire and encourage Aucklanders to be more active more often.
“Young people are the future of Tāmaki Makaurau and we want to help tamariki and rangatahi to have access to affordable options for participation in physical activity, recreation and sport,” said Cr Hills.
“The grant focuses on funding organisations that will enable children and young people to develop skills to help them enjoy sport and recreation activities over their lifetime.”
Applications for the Sport and Recreation Regional Programme Grant 2024 & 2025 opened today and close on 10 March.
Council’s Active Communities General Manager, Dave Stewart is encouraging community groups, including not-for-profit, charitable and voluntary organisations to apply for the grant.
“Auckland Council welcomes organisations seeking operational funding for programmes that encourage Aucklanders, particularly the young, Māori and inactive communities to be more active, more often,” he said.
“For example, in the past funding has been granted for sport coaching sessions for school-aged students delivered at multiple sites across Auckland; swimming lessons for children from schools in communities of greatest need and developing physical activity hubs for children with disabilities across Auckland.
“We recommend that organisations do not apply for the full cost of the programme. Funding shouldn’t be seen as the sole funding source for a programme.”
Who should apply?
The Sport and Recreation Regional Programme Grant is open to community groups, including not-for-profit, charitable and voluntary organisations; play, recreation and sport ‘umbrella organisations’ with a region-wide mandate; regional federations or groupings of local or sub-regional sports code organisations; sport and recreation providers or advocacy groups; iwi and other Māori organisations active in the sport and recreation sector.The full eligibility and funding priorities are explained here.
Key dates
The 2024 funding round opened today at 9am and closes on 10 March 2024 at 11.59pm. Funding decisions will be made by the relevant Governing Body committee in May 2024. Visit the council’s website for more information about the fund. To discuss your proposal or if you have any questions, contact sportandrecreation@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz
The next Sport and Recreation Regional Programme Grant is expected to open in early 2025.
