Recreation grants of $84,994

Press, 22 September 1977, Page 2

Recreation grants of $84,994

Recreation and sports grants totalling $64,994 have been made to 80 of 112 applicants from Christchurch. It was inevitable that many applicants had had to be rejected, and almost ail reduced, said the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr ’I. G. Hav; who is also chairman of the sports grant committee. Grant requests for the limited allocation totalled $531,084. The allocation is based on 50c per head of population in Christchurch City. In the future, Mt hay said, the committee would like co see some of the basic allocation put in a loan fund sports clubs and other groups. That money could be available, at a low interest rate, for capital improvements.

The Ministry of Recreation and Sport will be atked to include that provision in its national policy and to bring back the regional grant scheme for major projects.

. “A numoer of applications were not of a recreational nature, but were more in the field of s:>cial welfare services,” rfr Hay said. They were not considered because of the restricted funds avail able in the first place. But the largest single

?-ant, $lO,OOO. went to the ity Council’s community services division — part salary and subsidy for two youth workers and four com munity workers.

Another $5OOO went to the council’s parks and recrea tion department for recrea

tion equipment. The Y.M.C.A. will receive $5OOO, and the Y.W.C.A. will get $4OOO.

Other substituted grants were to the Sydenham Rugby Club ($5OOO for footballs and jerseys, and furniture and recreation equipment for youth). Scout Association ($5000), Ferrymead Trust ($2000), Canterbury Aged People’s Welfare Council ($2500), Solo Parents, Inc. ($2OOO for a recreation programme and improving *lub rooms), Wainoni-Aranui Fam ily Centre ($2OOO for furnishings), Mount Pleasant Community Centre Squash Club ($2OOO for squash courts), and the Canterbury Cricket Association ($2OOO for coaching). The allocation committee took into consideration an applicant’s financial position, the extent of aid received in past years, the number of people likely to benefit from a grant, and whether aid might be available from other Government sources.