Report by NewsroomPlus.com
An Auckland Council Regional Sports and Recreation Grant of $208,000 has been awarded to the John Walker Find Your Field of Dreams (FYFOD) Foundation, to support its general operations.
“We are pleased to support FYFOD, which runs five programmes providing accessible sport and recreation experiences for 7-18 year olds across South and West Auckland,” says Auckland Council Parks and Recreation Committee Chair, Councillor Christine Fletcher.
“FYFOD’s programmes, which have been going since 2008, build character development, life enhancing values, good health and community cohesion,” she says.
FYFOD Foundation Chairman Richard Walker says the grant of $208,000 per year for two years will ensure the foundation has a stable infrastructure in place to support the expansion of FYFOD’s programmes further across Auckland, improving health and recreation outcomes for young people.
“We already reach more than 70,000 children from 80 primary and 12 secondary schools in Auckland South each year and this grant will help expand our services across South and West Auckland,” he says.
“With five programmes currently running and others planned, the future is very positive.”
FYFOD’s flagship Community Swim programme has delivered 750,183 free swimming lessons to primary school children. The foundation’s Primary Sport programme reaches 20,000 young people each year and its Throw for Gold programme is being extended to include running and jumping components.
About community grants
Auckland Council recognises the vital role community groups and organisations play in helping Auckland become the world’s most liveable city.
Grants are one way that the council contributes to a thriving community sector, by supporting organisations to deliver a wide range of services, projects and events that benefit Aucklanders.
Council’s Community Grants Policy came into effect on 1 July 2015. This policy created a fairer, simpler and more accessible approach to accessing council grants by introducing three main grant types:
- local grants, administered by local boards;
- regional grants for projects, activities or events that have a regional impact; and
- multi-board grants, for projects spanning several board areas but not the whole of Auckland.
This grant was awarded under the Sports and Recreation Regional Grants policy.
ENDS
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