LEVELLING UP: ‘PLAY IT FORWARD’ PROGRAM SUPPORTS LOCAL FAMILIES
What words spring to mind when you think about sport? Fun, exercise, competition? What about privilege? Without us even realising it, involvement in sport provides us with the physical, social and psychological benefits necessary for a healthy and vibrant lifestyle. It is estimated that almost 50% of Australian families struggle with the costs of sports participation.
By investing in sports programs and facilities in disadvantaged communities, we can create lasting positive impacts for individuals and society as a whole. Sunshine Coast Sports ‘Play It Forward’ campaign in partnership with IFYS’s Inclusive Kids fund, was created with the sole purpose of providing $25,000 towards helping people in the Sunshine Coast Community, who are facing financial hardship. Individuals are invited to apply for one of fifty $500 bursaries to contribute to their involvement in a club/sport.
When asked ‘what do you specifically love about sport?’, a previous bursary recipient simply responded, “The community and the hard work that is put into teaching and leading us to success. I love all sport”.
Many individuals in low socio-economic areas face barriers to healthy lifestyle such as limited access to nutritious foods, health care, safe recreational spaces, increasing their risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses. Sports provide a fun and engaging way to stay active, which helps to combat these health issues by encouraging lifelong healthy habits that can lead to longer, more active lives.
Sports help build strong, connected communities by bringing people together regardless of age, gender, or background. By providing exposure to interactive games, healthy competition and problem-solving activities, sports teach individuals about teamwork, leadership and communication. Perhaps without them even realising, individuals are building a strong foundation of social skills that will extend beyond the playing field into daily life and future careers.
With a combination of these physical and social benefits, there’s no denying the endless psychological benefits created by participation in sport. Exercise is proven to reduce, stress anxiety and depression by releasing endorphins, the body's natural mood boosters. The resilience, discipline, passion and confidence that is often evoked in sport, transfers over into helping individuals navigate all barriers that life presents.
With the fundamental benefits of participation level sport in consideration, it is also important to highlight opportunities for talent to be created. Without access to sport, there are individuals who do not have the opportunity to realise their potential. In providing access to as many individuals as possible, we not only create healthier lifestyles and stronger communities, by can also provide career opportunities to those that were unaware that pathway even existed.
The Sunshine Coast Sports - IFYS ‘Play it Forward’ Campaign is all about providing opportunity. Opportunity for a healthy lifestyle. Opportunity for social engagement. Opportunity for success.
Round II of Applications open soon—stay tuned and check back for updates to ensure you're ready to apply!
