Woolworths has announced its Pick Fresh Play Fresh grants program supporting the return of grassroots netball across Australia in 2022, with a grants pool of $100,000 on offer for community netball clubs to share in.
The grants program is an extension of Woolworths’ new naming rights partnership of netball’s junior participation program, NetSetGO which was announced in February. The grants program aims to improve the health and wellbeing of young netballers through increased physical activity and healthy diets.
A total of 15 grants will be on offer as part of the program, with clubs and associations able to apply for five grants worth $10,000 each and 10 grants worth $5,000 each. The grants program is designed to assist with initiatives including facility improvements, equipment and training programs as Woolworths aims to inspire kids across Australia make healthy choices so they can play at their best.
Over the last five years, Woolworths has shown its continual support for grassroots netball, donating over $1.1 million to more than 285 netball clubs and associations across Australia through its community grants program.
Woolworths Group Chief Marketing Officer Andrew Hicks said: “This year’s Pick Fresh Play Fresh grants program is about instilling healthy habits in Aussie kids.
“In 2022 we’re evolving our community grants program to nurture the health and wellbeing of Aussie kids by encouraging them to pick fresh and play fresh.
“Netball clubs and associations will have the opportunity to revamp their programs and club facilities to encourage healthy eating habits at training during the week, at games on the weekends and at their netball clinics and provide a much-needed funding boost to the local netball community that was hit hard by the ongoing pandemic.”
Woolworths NetSetGO Ambassador and former Australian Diamond Catherine Cox said: “The Pick Fresh Play Fresh community grants are so important to the development of grassroots netball all over Australia.
“Young netballers today are the next generation of the Australian Diamonds, so it’s important that we invest in their health and education from a young age and give them best opportunity to thrive.
“As a mother to a young daughter, I can see first-hand the importance of surrounding our children with healthy habits to guide their decisions from an early age.”
Last year, the winning netball clubs were able to put their grant towards exciting projects that included revitalising their canteen menus to include healthy food and drink options, while some engaged dieticians to conduct cooking lessons for their young netballers.
Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan said: "The Pick Fresh Play Fresh grants provide much-needed support to grassroots netball communities right across Australia.
"The future of netball will be shaped by children participating in programs such as Woolworths NetSetGO, made possible through Woolworths’ support for grassroots netball. We look forward to continuing to work with Woolworths to empower young netballers to eat well, be active, play netball and have fun.”
To be eligible for the grant, clubs and associations must have a Woolworths NetSetGO centre and specify in their application the tangible project, activity, or equipment they would like to utilise the grant money for.
Applications for grant funding will need to outline how their project will support young netballers to Pick Fresh or Play Fresh. Entries are open now until Sunday 19 June 2022 with grants winners due to be announced during the week of 4 July 2022.
Visit pickfreshplayfresh.netball.com.au for more information and to apply.
