Investing In Getting Otago Children Active In Sport

KiwiSport is a government initiative focused on getting more school aged children involved in organised sport.  It has three objectives: More children playing sport, more opportunities for our children, and teaching better skills to our children.

Sport Otago administers the KiwiSport funding allocated to Otago.

The KiwiSport project is 'school centric'.  It will invest in organisations which have programmes and projects that demonstrate a focus on more school aged kids playing sport either in or out of school.  There are a wide range of possible opportunites for KiwiSport funding to get school aged children involved in sport.  These include, but are not limited to:

• After school programmes.

• Holiday programmes.

• Coaching sessions, either sport specific or skill based.

• Multi-sport 'taster' sessions.

• Training student leaders.

• Initiatives based on the needs of specific groups, ie: girls or children with disabilities.

• Overcoming the barriers presented by rural travel.

KiwiSport funding cannot be used to fund administration costs, for one-off tournaments or events, as sponsorships, for facilities or capital works, or as additional funding for existing projects, unless it demonstrates expansion of participation.

Information For Intending Applicants

Before you make an application please ensure you have taken these steps:

• You have read the application form and have collected all the information required.

• You have prepared a comprehensive budget.

• Established partnerships within your community that support your project, ie: clubs to schools, between schools, between sporting codes.

• That your project will get more school aged children involved in organised sport.

• That your project will benefit children within the Otago region, which may include of Dunedin City, Clutha, Waitaki, Central Otago or Queenstown Lakes Districts.

• Schools should have the approval of their Board of Trustees before making an application.

• Sporting bodies should have the approval of their executive before making an application.

You then need to contact our Sport Manager, Mike Weddell before submitting your application.  He can discuss your application with you and advise you of any additional information that may be required.

Core Criteria For Funding Applications

Sport Otago through its consultation process has identified a range of criteria that it will apply in assessing proposals and determining allocation of funding.

Proposals must demonstrate:

• Projected growth in participation of school aged children in sport within Otago.

• That greater opportunity and/or choice is provided to school aged children.

• That there is an improvement in the skill levels of school aged children.

• That the activity or programme is sustainable with ideally pathways being created.

• That there is clear evidence of partnerships formed with and between schools, community, sports organisations and funders.

• That there is demonstrated leverage of funding from a range of sources to supplement and support a KiwiSport fund allocation.

• That there is a clearly identified and stated assessment of current participation numbers and a robust system for measuring achievement of the stated proposal outcomes and the difference that the activity/programme will make.

Child Protection - What To Look For

Fun and enjoyment are the key factors that lead to enjoyable sport and recreation experiences for children and young people.  To be successful, initiatives that are supported through KiwiSport must provide a safe and positive environment with child-focused activities.  Note that `environment' encompasses the social, emotional, physical and cultural aspects of safety and positive experiences.

Ideally organisations that run programmes will have a child protection policy (or an appropriate code of conduct) that outlines the requirements, practices and procedures for ensuring the safety of children and young people in their care.  Educated adult leadership and appropriate development processes are also important elements of child protection.

In the absence of a policy (or appropriate code of conduct) an organisation should cover off the following procedures for protecting children and young people:

• identification of a person (or people) with responsibility for child safety;

• clear guidance on matters such as supervision ratios and emergency procedures;

• a process for recording incidents/accidents, concerns and referrals and appropriate storage of these;

• a process for dealing with complaints;

• when recruiting staff/volunteers – assess their suitability for working with children;

  • referee checks on staff and volunteers; and

  • induction and training for staff and volunteers;

• emergency contact information collated from each child/young person;

• medical information gathered;

• attendance registers kept;

• equipment checklists maintained;

• a health and safety checklist applied; and

• first aid available.

Sample Templates

These sample templates provide an idea of the type of information that can be sought to ensure provision is made for child protection.  These are examples of forms provided by Child, Youth and Family as part of its guide to providers of the Out of School Care and Recreation programme (OSCAR). The samples can be recommended to recipients of the Regional Partnership Fund where no provision is made for child protection.

Sample templates included are:

• Medication consent form;

• Attendance register;

• Staff information sheet;

• Referee check form;

• First aid checklist;

• Safety action plan sheet;

• Safety checklist sheet;

• Accident/incident record; and

• Complaint form;

• Consent to disclosure of information.