Financial Assistance Policy

Policy Date: January 2024-December 2024 (review annually)

Policy #: FAP18/01

Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish a framework for the provision of financial assistance to low-income households wanting to participate in football at St Georges Basin Football Club (the Club).

Objective
St Georges Basin Football Club encourages active lifestyles through the playing of football and promotes access to sport at a level suitable to individual abilities. 

The Club facilitates this by predominantly registering players from the townships of Sanctuary Point, Basin View, and St Georges Basin. As these townships are within the lowest household income quartile for NSW (Shoalhaven LGA Census results 2011), access to sport is generally more difficult. Household income is one of the most important indicators of socioeconomic status, which in turn determines the ability for families to participate in organised sport. 

The entry costs of football are comparatively higher than alternative sports due to the contributions required by players to the national and state sporting bodies, and the purchasing of personal equipment associated with the sport. Through this policy and associated funding, St Georges Football Club would like to continue and improve access to local low-income households to play football and benefit from an active lifestyle.

Financial Assistance:
Financial assistance can be used to cover costs associated with:

- Club registration (in addition to the $50 NSW Active Kids voucher)

- Uniform (shorts and socks)

- Equipment (shin pads, boots, goalie gloves and soccer balls).

NB: The Club will have to either pre-purchase or plan with a local sporting store to provide equipment such as boots and shin pads. 

Financial assistance will not be provided as cash payments, but will instead consist of the waiving of registration fees or part of, and the provision of equipment and uniform required. The value of assistance available will depend on individual circumstances as provided in the application.

 
Eligibility
Financial assistance to play football at St Georges Football Club is available to all low-income households (families and individuals) upon successful application. Families and individuals applying for financial assistance must meet one of the following eligibility requirements:

- in receipt of a Centrelink payment (excluding Family Tax benefits)

- Early school levers aged 16 to 18 not currently in full time employment, or low income

Assessment:
The following assessment process needs to be followed to approve financial assistance to families or individuals:

- Applications must be completed using the attached Club form 

- Applications must be submitted prior to player registration and returned to the Secretary of the Club. 

- Applicants must nominate the area that they are requiring assistance.

- Applicants must indicate their contributions and claim the $50 Active Kids Voucher in the first instance if eligible.

- Applications are to be considered by the current Board of Directors.

- All applicants will be contacted regarding the results of their application.

The allocation of financial assistance will be made sequentially from when applications are received and is conditional on grant, sponsorship or other funds that have been identified as Financial Assistance funding being available.