David Morris MP, Member for Mornington is encouraging sports clubs in the Mornington Electorate to apply for VicHealth grants of up to $2,500 each for new equipment, injury prevention equipment, portable shade and volunteer training.
Applications for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth) 2011/2012 Active Club Grants funding can be submitted now until 4.00pm Thursday 8 December, 2011.
Mr Morris said a total of $660,000 is available to local sporting clubs, regional sporting leagues and associations and local active recreation clubs across Victoria.
“The grants aim tomake it easier for clubs to fund items or activities that help them to improve safety and to reach out to new participants.”
“Each year the grants support more Victorians to become active and this is increasingly important as we see the impact of a lack of physical activity in the growing numbers of Australians with chronic diseases and other health problems.”
“We’re keen to encourage the involvement of people who are currently inactive, or who face barriers to taking part in sport.”
“This may include Indigenous communities, people from culturally diverse communities, people with disabilities and those who live in rural or low socio-economic communities. Regular physical activity not only protects against many illnesses, it also makes us mentally healthy, alert and resilient against the stresses of modern life.”
This year’s grants also focus on people aged over 60, who traditionally have low rates of sports participation and young people aged five to 17-years-old and sports that are vulnerable to on-field emergencies.