Millions of dollars has been set aside to support local sports and recreation clubs struggling to cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Sport New Zealand has announced a $15 million Community Resilience Fund (CRF) specifically targeting sports and recreation throughout the region, and an additional $10M for High Performance sport and a physical activity fund for those with greater needs.

“Clubs and regional organisations are the heartbeat of our sector,” Sport NZ CEO Peter Miskimmin said. 

He said under the pandemic response restrictions many have been among the hardest hit, particularly through the loss of gaming revenue and membership fees. 

“They need support now more than ever,” he said.“Play, active recreation and sport have a key role in maintaining individual health and wellbeing, bringing our communities together and keeping these communities strong.

“It is vital that organisations at all levels of our sector remain viable and are there when play, active recreation and sport can fully resume, and we believe we have structured this relief package in a way that will maximise its benefit at all levels of the sector for the greatest possible good.”

Wanaka-based community sports advisor for Sport Otago Tiny Carruthers said he has received feedback from various local sports and recreation clubs since lockdown began.

Some, such as the winter sporting codes, have not charged membership fees or asked for any sponsorship as there’s no certainty how the winter sports will proceed, yet they still have to meet continued financial outgoings, he said. 

“The ongoing uncertainty about what a return to play looks like, means projected revenue will most likely drop either through loss of membership, spectators or in the case of events, participants,” Tiny said.

“Some are paying commercial rates for their facilities, even if they are receiving rent relief, they need to be operating at full capacity to make ends meet.”

He’s also heard from clubs who have purchased full team sets of uniforms for the season but don’t feel comfortable asking a pre-arranged sponsor to commit under the present financial situation.

The CRF will be administered locally by Sport Otago in partnership with Sport NZ and eligible organisations can apply for a maximum of $1,000 for clubs and $40,000 for regional bodies.

Applications to the CFR open at 10:00am this Monday (May 11), via the Sport Otago website. Further information can be found here.

The funds have been made available through savings achieved from the reprioritisation of Sport NZ’s work programme in the wake of the pandemic, as well as the drawing down on cash reserves. 

The CRF follows an initial $70M support package generated by Sport NZ and High Performance Sport NZ partners, announced in early April 2020, which provided financial certainty for national sport and recreation organisations, regional sport trusts and others. 

Prior to Monday, any queries regarding the fund can be forwarded to [email protected] or [email protected].

PHOTO: Wanaka App