Trust Approves Funding to Meet Changing Needs of Sport And Recreation Sector

The Canterbury Community Trust announces it has approved funding of $549,757 to Nelson’s sport and recreation sector, to support those organisations and projects which best align with its new funding policy and the current changing landscape.

The Trust adopted its new Sport and Recreation funding policy after commissioning research in June 2014 by Research First and undertaking consultation with key stakeholders to assess the current and future landscape of the sports and recreation sector.

“The findings from that research revealed a real shift in the way people are approaching their sport and recreation activities. For instance, there is now a trend towards physical activity becoming more varied and moving away from traditional sports, with the range of sport and recreational activities requiring funding becoming more diverse. Evidence also points to more informal participation in physical activity as a result of environmental factors,” says Louise Edwards, Chief Executive.

A changing population structure and issues around sport and recreation governance capability were also recorded in the findings.

“Our new funding policy has taken into account these identified changes to the sport and recreation landscape and has set priorities and criteria under the new funding policy which applicants were required to meet. This ensures our funding goes to those organisations that can clearly demonstrate an alignment and delivers the most impact to their communities.”

“Participation in activities is a priority, and funding aimed at sustaining or increasing participation may have the widest benefits, particularly around engaging with young people,” she says. In Nelson out of 58 applications, 39 met the new priorities for funding and were approved. Ms Edwards says the demand on the sector’s budget was again high, with requests at $1,500,071 for a budget of $549,757.

“We have seen some wonderful new projects come on line in Nelson. As a funder we work hard to ensure that our funding is evidence-based and goes to those that can deliver the biggest impact.

We acknowledge some groups who have missed out and may have been traditionally funded by us will be disappointed.”

Ms Edwards says the Trust worked hard prior to applications being received to ensure the community was aware of the changes.

“In the first year of implementation of any new policy, particularly around funding, it is going to be hard but we will continue to work with groups to ensure they are well informed of the process and also use our own evaluation tools to monitor outcomes.”

New priorities for funding are:

• Organisations and projects that aim to increase participation and engagement in the community

• Can demonstrate positive social and health benefits in the community

• Recognise the diversity of our communities

• Have strong collaboration principles within the sport or recreation sector or other organisations within the community

• Are focused around unstructured sporting and recreational activities and are able to deliver strong community and social outcomes

• Aim to enhance the capacity of entities working within this area

New criteria for funding are:

• Alignment with the Trust’s Sport and Recreation Funding Priorities (or sharing) practice

• Capacity and capability to deliver

• Clear needs and outcomes demonstrated

• Letter of support from the regional sport organisation or national body

ENDS

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