Funding available for local youth to pursue sporting dreams
Armidale Sports Council is encouraging all young sports people to apply for grants available through the Local Sporting Champions program.
The program is an Australian Government initiative designed to provide financial assistance for junior sportsmen and women towards the cost of travel, accommodation, uniforms or equipment when competing at an official national sporting organisation (NSO) endorsed state or national sporting competition.
More than 1800 individual young sportspeople and in excess of 200 teams across Australia will be awarded grants each year under the program, Minister for Sport Kate Ellis announced.
“The Local Sporting Champions program will help young sportsmen and women, as well as teams to compete at significant sporting events,” Ms Ellis said. “Funding will be available to help people aged 12 to 18 years to help cover the costs of attending and competing in major sporting events.
“Grants of $500 per individual and $3000 per team are available to help meet costs such as travel, equipment, uniforms, and accommodation.”
To be eligible to apply for a Local Sporting Champions grant, individuals and all team members must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- be between 12 and 18 years of age (inclusive) at the time of the nominated sporting competition;
- be participating as an athlete in an official State or National sporting competition which is endorsed by the relevant Australian Sports Commission recognised national sporting organisation (NSO), or national school sport competition. This does not include coaching or officiating at such competitions;
- be required to travel greater than 250km return to participate in the nominated NSO endorsed State or National sporting competition, or national school sport competition;
- be an Australian citizen;
- must not have been the recipient of a Local Sporting Champions grant, either as an individual or a member of a team, within the year ending 30 June 2009;
- must not have received funding from other government sources for the nominated NSO endorsed state or national sporting competition, or national school sport competition; and
- must not be participating in a professional competition that involves prize money.
For information and application forms visit www.ausport.gov.au and go to the Local Sporting Champions link.
For further information contact the Council’s Sports Co-ordinator Jasmine Galletly via email at jgalletly@armidale.nsw.gov.au or phone 6770 3807.
Contact details
Jasmine Galletly
Tel: 02 6770 3807
jgalletly@armidale.nsw.gov.au
