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Health promotion foundation VicHealth will provide $500,000 in new funding to Victorian sports clubs aiming to get more people across the state physically active to improve their health and wellbeing.

VicHealth is encouraging clubs to apply for the latest round of its Active Club Grants, which open today, with funding of up to $3,000 or up to $10,000 available for community sport clubs to get more women and girls playing sport and increase ‘social’ or modified sport opportunities for people of all ages, genders and abilities.

Victorian Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos advised that the grants support inclusion and encourage women and girls to be more involved in community sport, commenting "these grants are an important way to encourage women to have a go and take up a new sport, get fit and active and make friends along the way.”

Noting that Active Club Grants have supported hundreds of clubs across Victoria to get more people in their community moving in new ways, VicHealth Chief Executive Dr Sandro Demaio stated "our latest round of Active Club Grants will support local sport teams across Victoria to provide more opportunities for local people to improve their health and wellbeing by becoming more active.

“We’re putting the call out for a variety of sporting clubs and associations who are offering opportunities for Victorians to be more active and live healthier lives.”

Adding that with less than a third of Victorians doing enough physical activity to benefit their health, it was critical that sporting clubs were supported to offer more opportunities to get people moving, Dr Demaio went on to say "most of us don’t do enough physical activity to benefit our health.  In recent years there’s been a welcome growth in women’s sport, but joining a sports club remains a daunting task for many women. A lack of opportunities, time and self-confidence are some of the reasons for this, which means many women and girls find it hard to get involved.

“Building on the success of our This Girl Can - Victoria campaign, we’re encouraging community sports clubs to offer new programs, teams and activities that make sport more welcoming for women and girls.”

Clubs applying for Active Club Grants funding can indicate if they would like to be considered for an additional $2,000 grant to promote This Girl Can  Victoria to encourage women in their local community to get active.

This year’s Active Club Grants are part of VicHealth’s Partnership Grant round, which provides funding opportunities for a diverse range of organisations looking to improve the health and wellbeing of their community.

Clubs are encouraged to apply for Active Club Grants funding through the VicHealth website before 12pm on 24th February 2020. This year the application process has been made simpler and easier for community sporting clubs.

For further information go to www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/activeclub.

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7th February 2019 - VicHealth grants to encourage community sport programs

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10th December 2018 - Latest VicHealth funding helps local sports clubs achieve their goals 

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