PRESS RELEASE

From amateur swimmers in Rodney to tennis players in Howick, sport was a winner in ASB Community Trust’s latest round of grant announcements.

The Trust, which helps support the not-for-profit community throughout Auckland and Northland, this month put more than $4 million into the work of community groups – and more than $1 million of that went into sport and recreation.

Among the biggest sport grants was $255,000 toward ARPASS – the collaborative regional effort which aims to get Aucklanders more active.

“The eight Auckland local authorities, the four regional sports trusts, Ministry of Health and SPARC are all involved in ARPASS,” says ASB Community Trust CEO Jennifer Gill. “The Trust’s funding will allow ARPASS to develop a number of projects, including a texting system to support SPARC’s Push Play campaign and initiatives to identify and work with communities that have concentrations of people with low physical activity levels.”

Meanwhile, in Manurewa, Counties Manukau Sports Foundation has been granted almost $300,000 for a series of development programmes which also aim to increase the number of people getting active.

Part of the foundation’s strategy is to increase the number and quality of coaches in all sports. The grant will help with an intensive development programme which aims to increase the number of coaches by 10% next year, as well as improving the coach retention rates by 10%.

“The foundation’s sport development programme will result in a network of sport-specific coaches that work at the grass roots level to improve all sports by assisting in the recruitment, training and deployment of coaches in schools and clubs,” Ms Gill says.

Counties Manukau Sports Foundation Chief Executive Russell Preston says the funds will be passed on to sporting codes as far south as Tuakau, helping not only out in the sports field but with issues such as governance training and developing business plans.

Another organisation with a South Auckland focus, the Peter Snell Institute of Sport, has been granted $83,000 to help with its talent search programme. This runs in 16 South Auckland schools, spotting and guiding young athletes with outstanding potential.

“The amount of undiscovered talent in South Auckland is likely to be great,” Ms Gill says.
“The institute has found that schools and families in South Auckland do not have the funds or resources to be able to support athletes in development programmes.

“The institute’s vision for South Auckland is to find more of the likes of shot put champion Val Vili, who came on board with the institute at the age of 15 and is now ranked second in the world.”

Among other grants to clubs in the south and east of Auckland was $55,700 to help Howick Tennis Club with the replacement of six courts; $12,585 for exercise equipment at the Tamaki College Community Recreation Centre and 23,900 to help Counties Manukau Rowing Club buy a new skiff.

Up in the north, Rodney clubs were also among those to gain grants, with $18,000 going toward running costs at Coast Amateur Swimming Club; $22,915 to help the NZ International Optimist Dinghy Association buy a safety boat; $21,378 toward replacing the floor in Silverdale Bowling Club’s clubrooms; $30,000 for a building upgrade at the East Coast Bays Bridge Club and $21,260 for junior uniforms at the Hibiscus Coast Raiders Rugby League and Sports Club.

Over in West Auckland grants included: Auckland Swimming Association, $78,421 toward an upgrade of the digital scoreboard at West Wave Aquatic Centre; Motu Moana Green Bay Scout Group, $59,907 towards new boats and renovations to its Blockhouse Bay base; Suburbs New Lynn Cricket Club, $10,425 for clubroom repairs.

In the central city, Kohimarama Yacht Club was granted $36,375 to help buy three new boats; Richmond Rovers Rugby League Club was granted $18,107 for junior uniforms; $10,000 went toward new lights at Mission Bay Tennis Club and $2000 toward junior coaching at Mt Roskill’s Winstone Park Tennis Club.

ASB Community Trust decides on grants for projects in education, the arts, sport, recreation, environment, heritage, health and social services areas of Auckland and Northland each month.

Founded on the sale of its shares in the ASB bank, the Trust has granted more than $500m since being formed in 1988. Any incorporated or charitable trust can apply for funds, provided they are a not-for-profit organisation.

For more details about applying, visit www.ASBCommunityTrust.org.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media