Football Victoria (FV) is delighted by the Victorian Government’s $45.2 million funding boost announcement yesterday, to get kids moving and help families with the cost of community sport in 2021.
The funding boost includes significant opportunities for schools to participate in sport as part of the Active Schools program; and in a big win for community sport, a ground-breaking $21 million to directly support up to 100,000 children with their participation costs.
The $21 million Get Active Kids Voucher Program is a Victorian first and will support children to get involved in organised activities, by providing $200 vouchers to help families with the cost of sports equipment, uniforms or memberships.
As a traditional winter sport, football has suffered the full force of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thousands of players in Australia’s number one club-based participation sport have felt the devastating impact in 2020, playing very little or no football this season.
Minister for Community Sport, Ros Spence understands the challenges families will face, as juniors begin to return to the activities they love.
“Every child deserves the chance to be active and healthy – but especially after this year – and these vouchers will help families afford the sports their kids love.”
FV Interim CEO Kimon Taliadoros celebrated the announcement, believing the payment will make a big difference for those families that most need it.
“This commitment will help to ease the financial burden for Victorian families, as we start to return to a COVID normal way of life. We know that community sport has a huge role to play, for the mental and physical wellbeing of everyone involved at our Clubs. This initiative has been very warmly welcomed by our football community. So many families have been heavily financially impacted by the pandemic and this payment will assist many to take part in 2021 competitions, that otherwise may not have been able to.”
The payments are expected to be made available next year.
FV will share further information on the eligibility criteria and application process with our community, as soon as details are released in coming months.