In response to the Bushfire crisis during the Australian summer, Commonwealth Games Australia, the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia and the Australian Sports Foundation joined forces to restore grassroots sport to communities affected by the bushfires or other natural disasters.

The Alliance for Sports Recovery is now inviting grant applications from community sports clubs and others affected by the recent natural disasters.

The Sports Recovery Grants will be focusing on the organisations and community members who have been affected by the recent bushfires – or in different parts of the country, floods or other disasters – and require assistance to resume playing sport in their community.

Following a call for donations in February 2020, the Alliance has funds available to help affected clubs and participants get back into sport after their communities were affected by bushfires or other natural disasters.

Suggested grant values are up to $20,000 and priority will be given to applications from volunteer run organisations.

Conscious of the many challenges currently facing community sports clubs and their volunteers due to the Coronavirus, the grant application process has been made as simple as possible, and affected clubs are invited to review the grant guidelines and submit an application at https://grants.sportsfoundation.org.au.

“We understand that much of the community sport is currently suspended due to the impact of COVID-19, but sooner or later we will be able to get back on the track or our playing field of choice. Community sport will play an important role in returning to normality, and we want to make sure that disaster-affected communities and clubs are ready to meet this need when the time arises,” said Patrick Walker, CEO of the Australian Sports Foundation.

Grants from the Recovery Through Sport program will be used to fund essential needs such as:

• Replacing lost or damaged sporting equipment
• Replacing lost or damaged uniforms
• Replacing lost or damaged small infrastructure items such as canteen equipment, mowers, rollers and so on.
• Providing fee relief or other financial support to members who have suffered loss or damage to property, homes or businesses, and who may also need help getting back into sport.

The Alliance hopes that by bringing people together through a shared interest and by encouraging physical activity they can help to rebuild the resilience and mental health of affected communities.

“Sport has the power to bring communities together, to break down social barriers and to improve the health and mental wellbeing of everyone. It will play a vital role as our communities recover from a summer of unprecedented natural disasters, even more so given the enforced inactivity due to the current Covid-19 crisis” said Mr Walker.

To apply for a Recovery Through Sports grant visit: https://grants.sportsfoundation.org.au

Applications are open through to 5pm AET Friday 8 May 2020.

For those who wish to support the campaign through this crucial time the fund remains open and donations can be made online at recovery.sportsfoundation.org.au.

All donations are tax deductible and will be distributed to affected sports clubs and communities to get them back up and running and help their communities heal.

For more information visit recovery.sportsfoundation.org.au