Club Update - 3 March 2021

Dear <<First Name>>,

Club Grants Open - applications close on 18 March 2021

A new funding round for clubs is open with all the details here. There are 4 categories. Clubs can apply for Category 4 and one of the other categories. If your club has received funding for Category 1,2, or 3 in the past, you will not be able to apply for another grant in that category. All clubs can apply for Category 4 even if they received funding from a previous grant round. 

Category 1: Uniforms and Equipment 
Up to $1000 to purchase equipment that is essential for participation, safety, or first aid equipment for immediate attention to injury that may occur whilst bushwalking.

Category 2: Skill Development
Up to $2000 to develop the skills of club members such as walk leader training or first-aid. 

Category 3: Organisation Operational Capacity
Up to $5000 to improve the operational effectiveness and efficiency of clubs.

Examples of initiatives may include but are not limited to:

• Preparation of a business, strategic or succession plan.
• Development of policy and procedure manuals, (i.e.privacy, child safety or risk management policies)
• Development of a club or organisation website.
• Start-up costs associated with the development of bushwalking programs, such as alternative, modified or pilot programs, that aim to increase the equity, diversity and inclusiveness in bushwalking for low participation groups or increase the membership base for clubs. This can include promotional material, equipment, uniforms, and training.
• Support for clubs that will deliver more flexible, social and less structured activities that aim to increase participation – for example come and try bushwalking events or social programs.
• Promotional materials, such as information flyers or information in other languages.

Category 4: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Recovery
Grants of up to $2000 to provide support to Victorian active recreation clubs to be COVIDSafe and assist with return to play costs and initiatives. 

If you require assistance with understanding program criteria or with applying online, please contact the Sport and Recreation Victoria call centre on email grantsinfo@sport.vic.gov.au or phone 1800 325 206 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Reminder: Club Website Offer

For clubs contemplating a new website, especially now that a potential grant is available towards this end, here is a reminder of the website offer that was sent to clubs in December last year. 

Richelle Olsen, president of Escaping Your Comfort Zone, an affiliated bushwalking club, has hands-on experience in managing a bushwalking club, building her club website and designing websites in general. Technology and website platforms continue to evolve and she recommends a platform that is very user-friendly for clubs, especially those who do not have IT skills in their clubs.  She has designed a sample club website for you to look at and has put together an offer for clubs with 3 different options. Please click on the buttons below to view the offer and the sample website. Feel free to contact Richelle if you have any questions. 

Multiple Memberships and Insurance Forms

The Bushwalking Australia Insurance documentation was sent to clubs recently. Some clubs have members who are also members of one or more other clubs. The detailed Multiple Club Membership Guideline is here. For clubs that offer a dual/multi membership discount -  when completing the Insurance Questionnaire - please only include members who list your club as their "Primary" club in Questions 1 and 2. Please include your "Dual" members as a separate number in "Visitors" in Question 3, ie Visitors xx, Dual members xx.  

Vision Impaired Walking Guidelines

In Victoria, there are over 100,000 people living with low vision or blindness, and as the population ages, this number continues to increase. There is a growing need for sport & recreation providers to build their capacity to develop programs that are welcoming and inclusive of this cohort. Blind Sports & Recreation Victoria has provided us with this very handy guideline for clubs and walks leaders.