SPARC’s Active Communities investment is for projects that demonstrate a collaborative approach to increasing participation in sport and physical recreation at a community level.
Active Communities is a contestable fund in which SPARC seeks a broad portfolio of investments that are strategic and offer innovative solutions to problems of inactivity and low participation in sport and physical recreation.
Active Communities will invest in projects that support the principles of the Explore, Learn, and Participate stages of the sport and physical recreation pathway.
Active Communities Investment Update 2010
Active Communities Investment Update 2010 (PDF, 857 Kb)
SPARC’s Active Communities Investment is intended to support innovative project-based initiatives that demonstrate a collaborative approach to reducing barriers to participation in sport and recreation at a community level. The initiative supports pilot projects targeting new/modified methods of delivery to increase participation in sport and recreation. The intention is that lessons learned from projects will be shared with the sector.
Each year SPARC will seek applications for investment against identified areas of priority.
2010 priority areas include:
- Development of ‘community sport and recreation hubs’ including:
- Sportsville developments, alignment of facilities (more information)
- Collaborative initiatives between sports clubs, community and regional organisations targeting increased adult participation
- Initiatives that address barriers to lifelong sport and recreation participation focussing on pre-school-aged children
- Initiatives that address the retention of school leavers (16-20 years) in sport and recreation
A single funding round will be held each year with a 2-stage application process - Expressions of Interest by 1 November 2010 and Full Applications due by 28 February 2011.
SPARC has reviewed the 2009 Active Communities guidelines and made the following changes for 2010.
Key changes from previous guidelines
- Areas of priority will be identified each year by SPARC and advised to the sector by 30 June.
- Territorial Authorities will be given priority for investment.
- There will be no prescribed minimum cash contribution (previously set at 40%), however, partner cash contribution levels (‘skin in the game’) will be a key consideration in the decision making process. Cash contributions should also not be sourced from other SPARC funding i.e. Kiwisport, Community Sport Investment, contestable Outdoor Recreation Investment.
- Increased emphasis placed on interagency/partner collaboration
- Stronger emphasis placed on project sustainability
- Greater emphasis placed on communication/sharing of project learning’s
Active Communities priorities
2010 priority areas include:
- Development of "community sport and recreation hubs" including:
- Sportsville developments, alignment of facilities (more information)
- Collaborative initiatives between sports clubs, community and regional organisations targeting increased adult participation
- Initiatives that address barriers to lifelong sport and recreation participation focussing on pre-school-aged children
- Initiatives that address the retention of school leavers (16-20 years) in sport and recreation
Who can apply for investment?
Territorial Authorities, Regional Sports Trusts, Recreation Organisations and recognised National Sport Organisations can apply for investment as part of, or on behalf of, wider stakeholder consortia.
Territorial Authorities will be given priority for investment. Notwithstanding this SPARC reserves the right to invest in robust proposals led by other agencies that have territorial authorities as a key partner.
Each project requires one lead agency to be the SPARC contract holder and to take overall responsibility for coordinating the project.