More than 2,000 play, active recreation and sport organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand have received relief funding from Sport NZ’s $15 million Community Resilience Fund Phase 2 to help alleviate the financial impact from COVID-19.  

The fund is part of the $265 million Sports Recovery Package announced at Budget 2020 and focused on providing support to help play, active recreation and sport organisations recover, rebuild and grow stronger as a result of COVID-19.

Distributed on behalf of Sport NZ by Regional Sports Trusts (RSTs), the fund was increased from $10 million to $15 million due to the volume of applications received over the first few weeks. A total of 2,070 applicants from regional and local organisations have received funding to cover fixed and operational costs for the period 1 July 2020 to 30 September 2020.    

“The fund built on the previous Community Resilience Fund Phase 1, in which a total of $6 million was awarded to nearly 2,000 clubs and regional organisations to cover fixed costs. This second resilience fund provided an opportunity for further support, but this time allowing applications of up to $25,000 to cover both fixed and operational costs,” says Sport NZ CEO Peter Miskimmin.

“The broadening of the eligibility criteria from the previous Community Resilience Fund has meant more organisations were able to apply for support, including applicants that were not affiliated to Sport NZ national partners. This has helped a wider range of community organisations to continue to deliver activities and programmes that have a key role in maintaining individual and community health and wellbeing.”

Other investment supporting the sector as part of the Sport Recovery Package include the $68 million Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund for community-based programmes and projects helping children and young people get active, as well as additional investment to provide ongoing support for  Sport NZ’s national partners  and their national leagues and key programmes.   

In addition, the Exceptional Systems Support Fund provided $1.88 million in support for 38 organisations including disability providers, recreation organisations and Māori national sporting organisations that did not already receive investment directly from Sport NZ.

“This investment and the associated initiatives are focused on ensuring that the areas in most need of support across all levels of the system can continue to thrive in the wake of COVID-19,” says Peter Miskimmin,

“We have a unique opportunity at this time to support those experiencing immediate pain as a result of COVID-19, while looking beyond the immediate horizon to reimagine how best to deliver play, active recreation and sport for all New Zealanders into the future.

“How and where investment is targeted is something we are working through in collaboration with our current partners and wider stakeholders in the sector. To make the most of this opportunity we need many minds and many voices.”

A list of all the CRF2 funding recipients can be found here.

ENDS

Media Contact

Philip Clark

Group Media Manager, Sport NZ

T: 0278 385 710

E: Philip.clark@sportnz.org.nz