Barriers such as cost, cultural appropriateness, transport, language, and a lack of familiarity with systems and structures influence the capacity of newly arrived migrant and refugee young people to participate in community sport and recreation activities.
Sports Without Borders (SWB) is a not for profit organisation dedicated to providing support for these young people who are involved or want to get involved in sport. It provides direct grants to individuals and teams from different backgrounds to assist with social cohesion.
SWB receives financial support from the Scanlon Foundation and is working with Melbourne’s Cities of Hume and Moonee Valley, who are also providing grant support.
SWB also receives funding from the Victorian Government, through the provision of a Victorian Community Support Grant.
In March, a meeting hosted by the Municipal Association of Victoria explored the potential for collaboration between SWB and 20 councils across Victoria.
SWB is also commencing work with groups in New South Wales and has put a funding application before the Federal Government for an expanded state by state plan to roll out an SWB managed SITS (Social inclusion through Sport) program.
Interested recreation and sport managers can contact Dolores.singh@sportswithoutborders.org or visit www.sportswithouborders.org for further information.
