Over $670,000 has been made available to the Auckland sport and recreation sector with two additional funds: Junior Players Tāmaki Makaurau and Working Together Tāmaki Makaurau, designed to support organised sport in the region.

The one-off funds are part of Aktive’s sector support initiative assisting those impacted by the more restricted lockdown Auckland faced mid-last year due to COVID-19. They are supported by community delivery partners CLM Community Sport, Harbour Sport, Sport Auckland and Sport Waitākere.

Aktive CE Dr Sarah Sandley outlines how the funds are targeted to make a difference for those impacted by the pandemic.

“Due to the additional COVID-19 lockdown Auckland faced last year, the organised sport sector has taken a hit in terms of how it would usually operate, be sustainable and retain members. With the help of our community delivery partners, we will distribute this funding to support organisations and projects working through this difficult environment.”

The Junior Players Tāmaki Makaurau Fund sees $577,000 available to support tamariki and rangatahi to continue to be active through organised sport, particularly where cost of membership or cost to play has been identified as a barrier. This one-off fund opens 9.00am 1 February 2021 and closes 11.59pm 29 March 2021.

The Working Together Fund makes available $115,000 to support projects that will create transformational change as a result of organisations working together. This one-off fund opens 9.00am 1 March 2021 and closes 11.59am 3 May 2021.