What is the Sporting Club Grants Program?
The Sporting Club Grants Program provides grants to assist in the purchase of sports uniforms and equipment and to improve the capacity and accessibility of Victorian clubs and other community sport and recreation organisations and increase the skills of their coaches, officials and managers.
The program has three funding categories:
Category 1: Uniforms or Equipment - Grants up to $1000 to purchase uniforms or other equipment essential for participation.
Category 2: Skill Development - Grants up to $2000 to improve the skills of club members by providing training for coaches, officials, administration staff and management committees.
Category 3: Club Operational Capacity - Grants up to $5000 to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of clubs through strategic planning, or to increase community participation through accessible sport and active recreation opportunities.
A club or other eligible organisation can only submit one application in Category 1 and one in either Category 2 or 3 in each funding round
- What is the purpose of the program?
The Sporting Club Grants Program is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to make sport more inclusive, increase local participation and the accessibility of sport, stimulate local economies, and build sustainable grass roots sport and recreation and volunteer opportunities.
Sporting clubs play a big part in shaping and supporting local communities. Being part of a club provides a socially valued role for participants and creates a sense of community membership.
The Sporting Club Grants Program contributes to the Victorian Government’s sport and recreation policy priorities and provides a single entry point for community sport and active recreation clubs to access funding that will assist in addressing a range of barriers to community participation right across the state.
Sport and Recreation Victoria manages these grants to support the increased health and well-being and social connectedness of all Victorians.
- When do applications close?
Applications for 2016 Round 1, for projects starting between 1 January 2016 and 30 June 2016, close on 23 September 2015.
Applications for 2016 Round 2, for projects starting between 1 July 2016 and 31 December 2016, close on 3 March 2016.
- When will the applicant hear whether they have been successful?
Applicants will receive written notification of the outcome of their application within three months of the closing date of the funding round
- Who is eligible for the grant funding / who can apply?
Clubs or other community organisations delivering sport and active recreation programs anywhere in Victoria may apply. (Note. school sport and recreation clubs are only eligible to apply if players are not current students. University sport clubs that participate in inter-varsity competitions are not eligible.)
- What type of projects will be considered for funding?
Applications under Category 1 can be made for the purchase of sporting uniforms or equipment that is essential for participation, safety, or first aid equipment for immediate attention to injury that may occur participating in sport or active recreation.
Applications under Category 2 can be made for initiatives to improve the skills of club members through training for coaches, officials, administration staff and management committee members
.Applications under Category 3 can be made for initiatives to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of organisations, or for initiatives to increase community participation through accessible sport and active recreation opportunities.
- What will not be considered for funding?
The Sporting Club Grants Program will not fund:
- project activity beginning, or uniforms or equipment purchased, prior to the eligible commencement date for each funding round (i.e. the following 1 January or 1 July)
- personal protective equipment such as mouth guards
- personal flotation devices
- defibrillators
- material/s from which sporting uniforms will be made
- fixed playing surfaces and structures (for example, synthetic pitch, goal posts)
- capital expenditure including the purchase of land (for example, permanent shade structures, permanent fencing, fixed lighting, permanent practice wickets, ramps and other permanent structures)
- repair of equipment, structures and playing surfaces (for example, golf course, turf wicket pitch)
- non-playing/participation equipment (for example, public address systems, banners, trophies, videos, sunshades, carpet/lino, clubroom items, wicket covers, scoreboards, GPS)
- canteen items (for example, microwave ovens, soft drink, food, alcohol, cooking utensils)
- maintenance equipment (for example, lawn mowers, rollers, line marker, hose, compressors)
- purchase or leasing of vehicles (for example, boats, bikes, golf carts, jet-ski, go-kart), trailers and accessories
- firearms (for example, rifles, pistols), scopes and ammunition
- applications from schools, hospitals, or individuals
- ongoing operational costs (for example salaries for ongoing positions, rent, electricity and other utilities)
- requests for existing activities (only new projects will be considered)
- applications under Category 1 from clubs or organisations that have received a grant under Category 1 in the current calendar year
- applications under Category 2 or 3 from clubs or organisations that have received a grant under either of Category 2 or 3 in the current calendar year
- projects considered the responsibility of other agencies, including those that currently receive significant financial support from other funding bodies or programs at local, state or federal government leveltraining courses to enhance the physical skills of participants.
- How much funding is available for each grant?
Category 1: Uniforms or Equipment - Grants up to $1000
Category 2: Skill Development - Grants up to $2000
Category 3: Club Operational Capacity - Grants up to $5000
- Will applicants be required to match funding?
No. Matching funding is not required.
- How long do successful applicants have to complete their activity?
The activity must be completed within 12 months of receipt of the grant funds.
- How do applicants submit an application?
To apply, go to www.sport.vic.gov.au/grants
Make sure you have the information you need on hand including required documents (NOTE: Applications for Category 1: Uniforms or Equipment must provide a quote prepared within the past 12 months for the uniforms or equipment intended to be purchased) and click on ‘Start new application’ to submit your application through Grants Online. You will receive an Application Number when you submit an application online. Please quote your Application Number in all correspondence relating to your application.
You can attach documents to your online application as long as they are in an acceptable file type (eg Word, Excel, PDF, or JPEG) and don’t exceed the maximum file size.
12. What are the assessment criteria for applications?
Applications will be assessed based on responses provided in the application form.
Category 1
Preference will be given to:
• projects that will increase participation in communities with existing low levels of participation in sport and physical activity
• reducing financial barriers to participation in communities with existing high levels of socio-economic disadvantage
• providing uniforms for competitors and active participants (including umpires) rather than for non-playing officials
• maximising the benefit of the grant by providing uniforms and equipment that will be owned by clubs and used by multiple members/teams over time.
For Category 2 and 3 applications, preference will be given to:
• projects that involve collaboration between community organisations, across localities, and include different sport and active recreation activities
• applicants that have not received a grant in the last two years
• applicants from areas identified as disadvantaged
• projects involving people with a disability, women, Indigenous people, school-aged children, culturally and linguistically diverse people and older adults.
NOTE: Applications for Category 1: Uniforms or Equipment must provide a quote prepared within the past 12 months for the uniforms or equipment intended to be purchased.
13. Who can applicants contact for further information or help in completing their application?
For preliminary information on this or any other grant program contact the Grants Information Line on 1300 366 356 for the cost of a local call (except from a mobile phone) on any weekday between 8:30am and 5pm (except for public holidays). Full guidelines can be found at www.sport.vic.gov.au/grants
Last Modified on 04/11/2016 10:34