Auckland: schools & clubs to benefit from Kiwisport funding

25 November 2010, Auckland
Auckland schools and sports clubs are set to benefit from a $2.3 million injection of Kiwisport funding. Sport Auckland will be distributing this via contestable funding rounds over the next three years. The objectives are simple: More Kids, More Opportunities and Better Skills.

The first round of clubs and schools to benefit have just received their funding and projects are already underway. These projects will provide in excess of 150,000 opportunities for Auckland’s children to participate in sports.

Glen Innes Primary School is a recipient of the funding. Principal Jonathan Hendricks couldn't be more thrilled. "It's amazing what something like this can do when used collaboratively as the Tamaki schools have done. We have already had AFLNZ (Australian Football League New Zealand) in for a four-week block and the children are delighted. Aside from the equipment it's the expertise we gain. We have teachers who are good at sport but having people at a professional level come in and help the kids with ball skills is something else. The skills are really transferrable so it's even better.

"The children have really responded well to being taught by people like this and the teachers are enjoying learning the skills themselves, to teach after the coaches have gone. Better still they are learning on the spot without having to put extra time into Professional Development. You can't imagine what something like this means to a school like ours. The wider implications of increasing fitness and self-esteem, helping battle health issues and giving children a great focus they can carry through to their teens can't be ignored either. All positives for the kids and the community" he says.

The partners providing the equipment and training are equally enthusiastic. Mark Lewis from Tennis Auckland is thrilled to have the financial backing to be able to roll out their 'Grasshoppers' program into schools. "The funding and partnerships with Kiwisport and Sport Auckland have meant that we can get mini-tennis into certain schools on a permanent basis, complete with a full set of equipment, coaches and online resources for teachers. All up it means more kids can have a go at tennis and the links with the clubs mean they can take it to the next level."

Tennis Auckland is just one of the providers involved. Other groups include: Cricket Auckland, Tennis Auckland, AFL New Zealand, Baseball New Zealand, Tristar Gymnastics Club, Auckland Orienteering, Auckland Netball and Watersafe Auckland.

Sport Auckland CEO Daniel Gerrard says “After months of planning and relationship building it is really exciting to see these Kiwisport opportunities in action." In Primary and Intermediate schools the funding is being targeted at two low-decile school clusters in Tamaki and Avondale/Blockhouse Bay and will be supported by two Community Sport Coordinators employed via a partnership between the schools and Sport Auckland.

In secondary schools, Sport Auckland is partnering directly with a range of schools to provide KiwiSport opportunities to their students. The schools include Otahuhu College, McAuley High School, Tamaki College, St Pauls College, Waiheke High School, Mt Roskill Grammar School, Marist College, Glendowie College, Auckland Girls Grammar, ACG Parnell, ACG Senior College and Baradene College.

ENDS

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