Sporting Chance PDF Print E-mail
Assisting the Financially Disadvantaged

Sporting Chance is an assistance fund administered by Sport Otago which helps young people from financially disadvantaged backgrounds to participate in their chosen sporting activities. Sport Otago facilitates this by:
  • Helping them to obtain sports footwear, clothing, and other essential equipment through the provision of grants.
  • Providing assistance with the payment of sports fees in cases where these payments are deemed to be the greatest obstacle to participation.
The programme has been running successfully for Otago youths since May 2002, and has provided financial assistance to over 1000 young people.
All applications to Sporting Chance are treated in the strictest confidence and applicants will not be identified by name at any time.

All schools and agencies wishing to refer young people for Sporting Chance assistance must register with Sport Otago.
To be eligible for a Sporting Chance grant an applicant should first meet these three criteria:
  • Be regularly at school and between years 5 and 13 (used to be standard 3 and form 7).
  • Have genuine financial need, as determined by the referee approving the application.
  • Be applying for an ongoing physical activity. 
Sporting Chance is made possible from the support of local businesses and charitable trusts. Our Primary Supporters are Stirling Sports and Dunedin Print.  Click the logos to visit their websites.
stirling sports web logo
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How to Apply to Sporting Chance

Application Process and Criteria

All applications to Sporting Chance must be made through a registered Sporting Chance referee on an official Sporting Chance application form.  Application forms are available from schools and support agencies throughout Otago.

The Application Process

Complete an official Sporting Chance application form with the assistance of a registered referee at the applicant's school or support agency.  All applications must be signed by the applicant's parent or guardian and a Sporting Chance Referee before being returned to Sport Otago.  A letter will then be sent to the relevant Sporting Chance referee notifying them of the outcome and any other relevant details.

 

 

Sporting Chance Application Criteria

Sporting Chance offers assistance for the following purposes only:

  • Sporting footwear, such as boots, spikes or court shoes.
  • Playing uniforms or essential clothing such as swim suits.
  • Essential equipment an individual must have to play, ie: a tennis racquet or cricket bat.
  • In some exceptional travel may be partially funded where it is the main barrier to participation.
  • Applicants can receive a maximum of two grants a year for unrelated season sports, or they may apply for one grant for an annual sport.

Generally the fund does not cover:

  • Equipment which in the opinion of Sport Otago can or should be provided by the club or school for participation in team sports, ie: footballs, tackle pads, wickets or nets.
The fund specifically excludes funding for:
  • Travel to tournaments, events or camps.
  • The additional costs associated with high performance or representative sport, including high quality equipment, travel, dress uniforms or additional fees.

Sporting Chance Supporters

bendigoSporting Chance relies on generous donations of time, resources, and finance to help make the programme a success.  Sport Otago would like to acknowledge the outstanding support of Stirling Sports, Dunedin Print, the Rotary Club of Dunedin East, Bendigo Valley Trust, The Dunedin Casino Trust and a number of other businesses, organisations, and individuals who have made donations to the programme.  Without these contributions, Sporting Chance would not be able to offer assistance to financially disadvantaged youth within Otago which enables them to enjoy the range of benefits which may result from participation in sport and physical activity.

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If you would like further information about Sporting Chance contact Felicity Sime.



Sporting Chance Referees

Sporting Chance Referees play a vital role in ensuring that the integrity of the fund is maintained and that only those who are genuinely unable to participate in sport due to financial circumstances are put forward for assistance.

Sporting Chance Referees are responsible for:

Promotion : In the first instance, Sporting Chance referees need to make all relevant staff aware of the programme and identify themselves as the Sporting Chance contact. 

Liaison : It is not always practical for Sport Otago to communicate directly with the vast number of parents, teachers, youth workers, and other parties with an interest in the Sporting Chance programme.  Therefore, Sporting Chance referees act as the first point of contact for other staff members, and will have access to all the relevant information including the updated application criteria and the official Sporting Chance application forms.


All applications must come through a registered Sporting Chance referee as indicated on the application forms.  Any clarification or additional information required by Sport Otago will also be obtained through this person.  Notification of the outcome will be sent to the relevant referee who can then inform students and parents or guardians of the outcome and any instructions or future requirements which may apply.


Exercise Judgement and Discretion : There is obviously a limited pool of funds available to support the significant number of applications which are expected.  With this in mind, it is important for Sporting Chance referees to be aware of the purpose of the Sporting Chance programme, and only refer cases in which there is a genuine need and the assistance requested is a major barrier to participation in the applicants chosen sport.  Sport Otago believes that those more directly associated with the applicants and their specific situations are in the best position to make judgment on whether or not assistance is warranted.

Follow Up : Sporting Chance referees should (where practical) endeavour to keep in touch with recipients to ensure that the conditions of assistance have been met.  On occasion, Sport Otago may offer advice on funding alternatives which may be more appropriate for specific cases.  Sporting Chance referees should pass on this information to the relevant parties and may also be in a position to assist students peruse the alternative funding options.

All applications must go through a registered Sporting Chance Referee.

All schools and support agencies (such as Presbyterian Support, Catholic Social services, WINZ) are eligible to register a referee with Sporting Chance.  Registration forms are available from Sport Otago, or can be downloaded below.

Sporting Chance is made possible by the support of local businesses and charitable trusts.


 

 

Sporting Chance - The History

In 1999, a local support agency (Presbyterian Support) surveyed forty-two schools in the Dunedin metropolitan area and found that nearly ten percent of parents could not afford to support their school-aged children to take part in regular sporting activities due to financial difficulties.


The major barriers to participation which were identified included the payment of fees and subscriptions, and the purchase of uniforms, footwear, and equipment.   The increased pressure on school budgets also resulted in 'no pay, no play' policies being enforced by a number of schools, further compounding the problem.


In response to this situation - which was clearly having a negative impact on the number of youth involved in physical activity - Sport Otago developed the Sporting Chance programme which was launched in May 2002.  Initially the programme offered assistance to Secondary School age youth throughout the region, giving them an opportunity to participate in their chosen sporting activities.  After a review in 2004, the fund was made available to all students from year 5 through to year 13.