Government grants aid sport club recovery

Altona City Soccer Club and Point Cook Cricket Club have been given a helping hand to get back on the field with emergency grants from the state government.

The clubs have been selected for funding from the Emergency Sporting Equipment Grants program, delivering $2000 to Altona City Soccer Club and $1895 to Point Cook Cricket Club.

Altona City Soccer Club’s grant will go towards new nets, wheels and crossbars on portable soccer goals.

Point Cook Cricket Club’s grant will go towards new cricket balls, stumps, bats, and a bowling machine for batting practice.

The Emergency Sporting Equipment Grants program aims to help clubs get back to business after being affected by impacts such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Altona MP Jill Hennessy said it provides swift, practical support to get clubs up and running again in their time of need.

“The impact of vandalism and theft on community clubs can be devastating – the hard work that goes into securing and maintaining good quality equipment and club facilities can be undone by these sorts of circumstances, so we want to make up for that and help clubs recover,” she said.

“I’m happy that both these great clubs are being supported through this important initiative.”

Ms Hennessey said the Victorian government is working hard to give all Victorians the opportunity to play the sports they love and embrace a more active and healthy lifestyle in a COVIDSafe way.

“Our Sporting Clubs Grants Program has provided more than 300 grants totalling $614,000 to clubs, leagues and associations and other community sport and active recreation organisations that had to cancel planned events affected by the lockdowns this year across the state.”

The government has also allocated more than $39 million to clubs, leagues, state associations and other organisations from the Community Sport Sector COVID-19 Survival Package and invested more than $1.1 billion in community sport and active recreation infrastructure since 2014.

For more information about the Emergency Sporting Equipment Grants visit sport.vic.gov.au