GOSFORD Water Polo Club Inc. has received $8,716 worth of grant funding as part of the NSW Government’s $4.4M Local Sport Grant Program.
The program provides up to $20,000 to individual clubs and associations with $50,000 available in each electorate to increase participation in community sport, host events, improve access and enhance sport and recreation facilities, with 579 projects awarded funding in this year’s program.
Five projects were awarded funding in the Gosford electorate for new equipment, programs and facilities valued at $37,531.30.
Member for Gosford, Liesl Tesch MP said: “Sport is in our DNA on the Central Coast. It is vital to community health, wellbeing and identity. This vital funding for grassroots sport will help our local sport clubs and their passionate volunteers to provide more opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to reap the benefits of participation in sport.
“I congratulate Gosford Water Polo Inc and look forward to the amazing project outcomes that this grant fund will help deliver.”
Gosford Water Polo Inc president Tracey Worrall said the grant will be directed towards the club’s Women in Water Polo Program.
“This initiative is more than just playing water polo; it’s about building a supportive and inclusive community. The grant will specifically be directed towards growing and supporting all of our girls and senior women, with a direct focus on active playing, coaching, and refereeing.
“We will be able to develop improved training sessions, purchase necessary equipment, and subsidise tournament fees, making it more accessible for women to participate.
“From a coaching perspective, these funds will enable us to explore opportunities to improve our training, and mentorship for our female athletes.
“When it comes to refereeing, by offering workshops and certification courses, we aim to increase the number of qualified female referees, which will benefit all Central Coast water polo clubs.”
Further information on the NSW Government’s Local Sports Grant Program is available https://www.sport.nsw.gov.au/grants/local-sport-grant-program
