A State Government grants program aims to help youth connect through local sport.
Minister for Youth Ros Spence has launched a new African and Pasifika Youth Sports Program, with $300,000 in grants available to informal sports teams with young African and Pasifika members.
Local councils and community organisations are encouraged to partner with young people aged 12 to 25 to apply for a grant.
To ensure cost is not a barrier to participation in sport, grants of up to $2000 are available to support African and Pasifika sports teams to cover the costs of uniforms and equipment.
A second funding stream offers grants of up to $30,000 to cover costs associated with participating in sporting competitions and events, including staff costs and venue hire.
Funded activities will provide pathways into formal sporting organisations as well as mentoring, training and employment opportunities for young people.
To ensure the program responds to the immediate needs of young people, funded activities will be delivered between 1 July and 31 December 2021.
The grants are part of the State Government’s work to provide tailored and culturally appropriate community engagement opportunities for young people, and follows an announcement earlier this month of $450,000 in funding to support larger sporting organisations to deliver mentoring and skill-building activities to African and Muslim young people.
This also builds on $250,000 announced in February to support Aboriginal young people to reconnect with community and culture through the Government’s new Aboriginal Youth Engagement Grants.
Applications to the African and Pasifika Youth Sports Program close on Wednesday 19 May 2021.
To find out more and apply, visit youthcentral.vic.gov.au/african-and-pasifika-youth-sports-program-grants.
