Fund established to support sport & physical activity in our district
Published on 26 May 2023
In response to the severe weather events that have impacted the Thames-Coromandel area this year, our Council, Sport Waikato, and Sport NZ have joined forces to provide funding and support for the recovery of physical activity opportunities in our region.
To address the challenges faced by the Coromandel community, the Thames-Coromandel Disaster Relief Fund for Play, Active Recreation and Sport has been established. Organisations and groups in our district can now apply to access a share of $60,000 of funding provided by both Sport New Zealand and our Council’s Mayoral Disaster Relief Fund.
“This fund aims to support play, active recreation, and sport organisations and groups in repairing weather-related damage to infrastructure or equipment. Importantly, it will also support the implementation of local opportunities for physical activity,” says our Mayor Len Salt.
“The fund will also help to meet increased travel demands for accessing sport and physical activity, particularly for groups, schools and representative teams affected by the closure of SH25A,” he says.
Matthew Cooper, Chief Executive of Sport Waikato, expressed the importance of supporting physical activity in the Coromandel. "In 2021, 73 per cent of young people (5-17 years) and 63 per cent of adults (18+) in the Coromandel were doing enough physical activity to positively impact their wellbeing, making the area one of the most active districts in the Waikato region," he says. "It’s extremely important for the ongoing health and wellbeing of the area's communities that we support participation in physical activity, despite the increased and ongoing challenges recent weather events have caused."
Mr Cooper also expressed his pride in partnering with Sport NZ and our Council. "We’re pleased to be able to partner with Sport NZ and TCDC in the delivery of this fund, which we hope will go some way to helping those who enable play, active recreation, and sport to offer opportunities that support people to continue to be active or even take up something new."
The collaboration between our Council, Sport Waikato, and Sport NZ signifies a commitment to the well-being and resilience of the Coromandel community. By providing funding and support, the aim is to rebuild physical activity opportunities and ensure that the community can continue to thrive.
Applications open on Friday 26 May at noon and run until Monday 12 June, 4pm.
Full funding criteria is available on the funding page, as well as an online application form.
Find out more and apply now