Council Program Boosts Wollongong Sports Opportunities

If you're a sports club and association with a top-notch application and a plan, you don't need to be Jerry Maguire. We have a grants program that'll show you the money.

This week Wollongong City Council has opened its Sports Grants program. The initiative provides the opportunity for local sporting clubs and associations to apply to Council for funding that helps them to improve how they do their do.

"We're a passionate sporting community in Wollongong and there's such a diversity of sporting codes that people play and support right across our Local Government Area,'' Lord Mayor of Wollongong Councillor Tania Brown said.

"What is wonderful about this grant program is it goes directly to the clubs themselves enabling them to deliver improvements that make game day better for their players and supporters.

"We're not talking huge, big-ticket items either. Just projects that support increased participation and better player and supporter experiences.''

Council's consideration of the grant opportunities look for projects that align with Council's Sports Strategy priorities:

• Increase opportunities for people to participate in sport

• Increase sportsground capacity and allow sites to be used for multiple sports and groups

• Renew and enhance existing sporting infrastructure, with a focus on gender equity, accessibility, and storage

• Invest in infrastructure to support and accommodate emerging sports and independent recreational pursuits.

Council also recognises that most community sporting clubs are run by volunteers with a passion for sports, and who may never have needed to write a grant application before.

That's why we're supporting our community members and offering an interactive webinar session on Thursday 14 August between 6.30-7.30pm with members of Council's sports and recreation team.

The session provides the chance for Council to share advice around eligibility criteria and funding guidelines, how to align your project with Council's Sportsgrounds and Sporting Facilities Strategy and tips for preparing a strong application.

"So many of our sporting clubs are run by passionate volunteers who do this work alongside other competing priorities like family and careers,'' Cr Brown said.

"Their efforts are really valued by our community and so through this process we want to make sure we're making it as easy as possible for them to not only put in an application but to make it a successful one.

"These grants are targeted at local sports clubs and associations who need funding for small and medium-sized projects.