Victorian sporting and recreation clubs forced to cancel or postpone events due to the current lockdown will be able to apply for cash grants to defray costs.

Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence today announced that the application deadline for the Andrews Labor Government’s Sporting Club Grants Program has been extended to 27 August.

The current round of the program provides $2,000 grants for eligible clubs and community organisations impacted by the July lockdown or the current lockdown that will run until 8.00pm on Thursday, 12 August.

The grants are available to Victorian sport and active recreation organisations for irrecoverable costs due to cancelled events including cancellation fees for facilities and payments to coaches and officials, as well as the loss of perishable goods and booking fees.

Recent grant recipients under the program include Mount Eliza Football Club, Rochester Bowls Club and the Sale Tennis Club, which received grants towards the losses associated with coaching and perishable goods.

To date, the Labor Government has provided more than 230 sporting club grants under the events support category of the program to clubs across the state affected by lockdowns this year.

The Sporting Club Grants Program is part of the Government’s commitment to make sport more accessible and inclusive, stimulate local economies, build sustainable sport and recreation and volunteer opportunities, and increase local participation.

For more information on the grants program and to apply visit sport.vic.gov.au/grants-and-funding.