Successful recreation grants

The Active Inner West Grants provide financial support to community sporting and recreation groups and non‐government community recreation organisations that offer recreation programs and services to residents in the Inner West. They will be next available in April 2026.

2024 Active Inner West Grants

These projects are being implemented throughout 2024-2025

Canterbury & Western Suburbs Cricket Association

• Project: Project ShadeStrike: Empowering Cricket Teams with Sun-Safe Marquees and Equipment
• Funding: $10,000

Project ShadeStrike aims to enhance the well-being of cricket teams by providing sun-safe marquees for sun protection and comfortable seating during matches. Recognising the importance of sun safety, this initiative seeks to equip our teams with high-quality and durable sun-safe marquees. Additionally, we aim to provide benches under these marquees, providing a comfortable seating area for the players to rest between innings. Furthermore, we plan to supply sunscreen to ensure comprehensive sun protection for all participants.

Summer Hill Lakers Netball Club

• Project: Coaching and Umpiring Development Program
• Funding: $10,000

This program will target adolescents, young adults and parents at our club to encourage and support them to gain skills in netball coaching and umpiring and use these skills to benefit the entire club community. Through developing more umpires and coaches and remunerating them for their time once they have achieved the required skill set, we will create an environment where more people can thrive and improve in all aspects of the game. This grant will help us fund the program and keep registration costs lower, ensuring netball is accessible for all who want to play.

Sydney Women's Baseball League

• Project: "Diamond Inclusion": Women & LGBTQIA+ Sydney Women's Baseball League Coaching and Umpiring Clinics
• Funding: $10,000

The "Diamond Inclusion" Coaching and Umpiring Clinics aim to promote inclusivity, skill development and volunteer retention of women and the LGBTQI+ community. Through a series of workshops and clinics, experienced members will upskill while new members learn, receiving professional coaching and umpiring training. This fosters a supportive environment for women and LGBTQI+ individuals to excel in baseball, breaking down barriers and advancing diversity within the sport. Ultimately, it strives to create a more inclusive and equitable baseball community where everyone can thrive both on and off the field and increase their baseball knowledge and skills.

Newtown Junior Australian Football Club Inc

• Project: Safer club, safer community
• Funding: $8,120

Our project aims to provide all club coaches, committee members, appropriately aged players and other interested parties such as volunteers or parents to learn life saving skills. We will split the funding on CPR & First aid training, the purchase of first aid kits, an automatic external defibrillator and ongoing wellbeing initiatives that provide value to our volunteers and members.

AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission Limited

• Project: Youth & Women AFL 9s
• Funding: $8,120

Increasing engagement and participation in a brand new social (non-contact) AFL 9's competition for Women and Girls (Youth aged 12-16 years old) at Mahoney Park in the Spring window. Our project would commence with a come n try session during the school holidays for the girls to learn new skills, and lead into the inaugural AFL 9's Youth Girls and Women's competition in the Inner West.

Ashfield Amateur Swimming Club

• Project: Growing access to swimming
• Funding: $7,420

Promote and grow female participation and offer leadership opportunities. Continue to grow training opportunities for females. Develop opportunities for older people both female and male. Continue to encourage people who are of CALD, Low SES and/or LGBTIQA+background to join the club. Develop member improvements in swimming and understanding of the safety around water environments.

Sydney Inner West Pickleball Club

• Project: Develop the Inner West Rainbow Pickleball Group
• Funding: $6,520

SIWPC hosts players of all skill levels and supports equal rights for all, regardless of race, sexual orientation, gender, or religion. In 2023 we launched Australia’s first dedicated pickleball session for the LGBTIQ+ community. We seek funds to further develop Rainbow Pickleball by: - providing a safe venue where players can be their true self - improving players physical and mental health by reducing social isolation - encourage participation in physical activity & promote a healthy lifestyle - create opportunities for players to make social connections - provide information on various health issues - host twice yearly Rainbow Pickleball Tournaments

Balmain Tigers Australian Football Club

• Project: Women's Masters AFL - Balmain AFC
• Funding: $5,420

The Grant will help support the coaching, development and running Women's AFL for Masters players (over 35 years). This is for Women either new to the game or who have played some AFL before. With the fast uptake of Women's AFL, there is a community need for Women 35 yrs+ to still play and engage with the game.

Australian Dancing Society Ltd - NSW Branch

• Project: Future Stars Cup Development Competition
• Funding: $4,420

The ADS Future Stars Cup is a new DanceSport development competition. This new and fun initiative has events for all ages and abilities, featuring our Future Stars events which aim to develop our up-and-coming competitors and a specialised Social Events Division as an introduction for those who have never competed. This division has events across all 3 styles and for all ages from the very young to the mature. We aim to bring forth and create an inclusive and welcoming environment that encourages creativity, growth, and personal development and plan for this project to be an ongoing event.

2022 Recreation Grants

These projects are being implemented throughout 2023-2024.

UNSW Wests Water Polo Club

• Project: Entry level under 12 Water Polo program
• Funding: $10,000

Club has a long history as a club based out of Ashfield pool. While the club is very successful at the elite level winning many National league titles, we would like to be able to provide support for our junior entry program which is the under 12s age group.

Special Olympics Inner West

• Project: Establish new Special Olympics sports in the Inner West
• Funding: $10,000

Introduce the Special Olympics sport of swimming, tennis, bocce and gymnastics to the inner west to benefit the wellbeing of children and adults with an intellectual disability.

Ashfield Pirates FC

• Project: Community School Training Program
• Funding: $9,400

This program is for boys & girls between the ages 5 - 17 years of age & will teach them the basics of football but most of all keep them healthy.

Inner West Roller Derby League

• Project: Inner West Roller Derby League LGBTQIA+ Skate Nights
• Funding: $8,000

Roller skate sessions for beginner and intermediate skaters who identify LGBTQIA+. Over a term of 10 sessions, skaters will develop skate skills in a safe and inclusive environment while connecting with their community and building a sense of belonging within the roller derby community.

Marrickville District Lawn Tennis Club

• Project: Parents at Play
• Funding: $8,000

Provide safe environment for new mothers/caregivers with infants to socialise and exercise in a park setting with appropriate amenities.

RALLY4EVER

• Project: 2023 R4E Tennis Program - Ashfield & Camperdown
• Funding: $8,000

RALLY4EVER will host 4 x 10-week tennis programs each year for 2023 and 2024 in both Ashfield and Camperdown. The program is for those struggling with loneliness or poor mental wellness, in which they participate in 1 hour of tennis for free in a communal setting fostering inclusion and positivity.

Leichhardt Wanderers Netball Club

• Project: Inner West Community Netball Inclusivity and Coaching Skills Building Project
• Funding: $8,000

Leichhardt's Saints Football Club

• Project: Purchase of Two Sets of Portable Goals for Balmain Rd Sporting field
• Funding: $5,000

Purchase of two sets of portable goals for Balmain Rd Sporting Field to enable flexibility of match allocations, increase use of current greenspace and available sporting fields, and increase capacity for players in U10/U11/U12 age groups who will play on half-fields in 2023 and onwards.

Summer Hill Cricket Club

• Project: Coaching for Coaches
• Funding: $3,600

A month-long project held over the weekend to teach parents and careers how to coach junior cricket and the basic administration of juniors cricket.

2020 Recreation Grants

These projects are being implemented throughout 2021-2022.

Balmain Rowing Club

• Project: Indoor rowing for school, youth, seniors and para rowing
• Funding: $7,040

Indoor rowing has created an opportunity for groups outside of the traditional rowing community to get fit, stay connect and prepare for on water rowing. The grant addressed a shortage of rowing machines and has allowed for expanded programs for school, youth, seniors and para rowing.

Canterbury and District Soccer Football Association

• Project: Female Football Festival
• Funding: $9,260

This grant has initiated an annual female football in Pratten Park each May. The festival includes free skills clinic followed by a Women's 1st Division game on main field and 'Kick-on for Women' game on mini field. It fully engages the community with entertainment, W League player appearances and giveaways. The grant has helped highlight all ages of participation, brought a festival atmosphere and promoted strong female role models

Cooks River Croquet Club Incorporated

• Project: Croquet mallets to support new players on come and try days
• Funding: $5,000

This grant has supported the increasing interest in the inclusive sport of croquet by providing the equipment for those new to the sport to come and try the game.

Flying Bats Football Club

• Project: Coaching Skills and Capability Uplift
• Funding: $3,904

This project gives volunteers access to ongoing skills acquisition. It aims to increase retention of club officials. This will include uplift skills of existing and prospective team coaches, assistant coaches, goal keepers and players, as well as committee members, team managers and other volunteers.

Leichhardt Rowing Club

• Project: Youth access to rowing
• Funding: $9,900

Traditionally, rowing in schools has only been accessible to the most privileged students. This program has reduced the barriers by partnering with a local public school - Leichhardt Sydney Secondary College. A staged program was developed providing Year 9 students an introduction to the sport starting with indoor rowing and shifting to on water rowing. Successful graduates of the program are eligible to apply for scholarships in Leichhardt Rowing Club's junior rowing programs.

Marrickville Football Club

• Project: Football for Women
• Funding: $8,200

Kick On for Women is an introductory program designed for women who have never played before. It creates an entry point for women who may not be able to commit to a full season but still want to stay active and have fun with friends. It is scheduled alongside junior team trainings that means mothers of younger players can choose to be active rather than sit on the sidelines as their child trains.

Newtown Breakaways AFC and Newtown Jets RLFC

• Project: Newtown Sports Pride Round
• Funding: $10,000

A Newtown Pride Round combined the cross-code communities for both Newtown Breakaways (AFL) and the Newtown Jets (NRL). Newtown Sport Pride Round celebrates Pride and the participation of the LGBTQI+ community in inner west sport.

Special Children Services Centre

• Project: Inclusive Sports Club for Teenagers
• Funding: $7,000

The project has delivered 20 sessions of sport activities to teenagers and young adults with intellectual disabilities aged from 14 to 25 years. The activities have improved physical fitness, social connection and increased community participation.

Universities Women's Cricket Club

• Project: Girls Cricket Academy
• Funding: $10,000

Skill development program to support entry into girls’ cricket pathways and opportunities. This includes development female coaches and officials as well as school aged players.

2019 Recreation Grants

These projects are being implemented throughout 2019-2020.

Next Step Foundation

• Project: Inner West Inclusion Soccer Programs for Children with Special Needs 3.5 to 9 Years
• Funding: $5,000

Consistent with Inner West Council's Inclusion Action Plan, this project provides the opportunity for special needs children to have meaningful participation in sport. 12 children will have free access to the Next Step Community Program and 20 children will participate in the Inclusion School Hub pilot.

Summer Hill Lakers Netball Club

• Project: Strategic Coaching Pathway Pilot
• Funding: $5,000

Pilot to implement and evaluate Summer Hill Lakers Netball Club's structured coaching pathway. The program aims to attract new coaches, develop better coaches and leaders in our club and community, and assist with retention of girls in sport. The program provides mentoring, support, accreditation levels and modest remuneration in line with these accreditation levels.

River Canoe Club of NSW

• Project: Canoe Purchasing for Recreation and Environmental Purposes
• Funding: $4,400

To purchase 2x canoes for use by the club and broader community.

Special Children Services Centre

• Project: Recreation Program for Children with Special Needs and their Families from CALD Backgrounds
• Funding: $4,330

The project provides an opportunity for children to participate in some innovative climbing, bouldering or martial arts activities under the support of trainers, which improves their motor skills and fitness to become more confident, disciplined and focused. It is also an interactive program which helps them make friends.

Participate Australia

• Project: Recreational Therapy Program for Children with High Support Needs
• Funding: $3,578

The project will deliver 4 different types of recreational therapy to approximately 15 children with intellectual disability, including music therapy, art therapy, dance therapy and pet therapy.

Petersham Juniors Rugby Club

• Project: Inner West Come Try Rugby Day
• Funding: $3,350

Hosting a 'Try Rugby Day' delivered through three inner-city rugby clubs (Petersham, Balmain, and Canterbury) to service residents of the Inner West Council.

Different Strokes Dragon Boat Club

• Project: "Drag on Water"- Dragon Boating for LGBTQI+ Community
• Funding: $3,325

'Drag on Water' is designed for the community to experience the thrill of recreational sport on dragon boats and inspire people to consider Dragon Boating as their sport of choice for a healthy, fit lifestyle. This is designed as a pilot program for 20 people in one dragon boat.

ACC Cricket Club

• Project: Cricket: "The Best of Times" For All
• Funding: $2,979

To run "Come and Try" Cricket Programs at Local Primary Schools and childcare institutions, as well as run "Come and Try Cricket Programs For Participate Australia" once a week for 4 weeks in Summer Season.

2018 Recreation Grants

These projects are being implemented throughout 2018-2019.

Australian Skateboarding Federation

• Project: Queen Of Concrete Sydenham
• Funding: $6,500

Queen of Concrete is a Girls Only Skateboarding Event. It has the age groups Under 9, Under 12, Under 16, and Open. It is held in both bowl and street terrain, and has prize money for the open division.

Newtown Breakaways Football

• Project: Women and Girls AFL Preseason Engagement 2018
• Funding: $4,605

Newtown Breakaways Football Club and Newtown Swans Juniors Football Women and Girls AFL preseason engagement 2018 Project is two fold, including: Kick & Try - Open AFL skill development sessions & recruitment for Girls & Women of all ages, and Pre-Season Trial Games Carnival for Women and Girls of all ages.

Asylum Seekers Centre

• Project: Learning How to Swim for People Seeking Asylum
• Funding: $3,200

A recreation grant from Inner West Council will enable ASC to purchase essential swimwear, goggles and towels for up to sixty participants from diverse backgrounds for this project. In order to participate in this enjoyable and life-saving recreation program, it is vital that people have access to culturally appropriate swimwear and equipment necessary for the swimming program.

Police Citizens Youth Clubs Marrickville

• Project: TwilightFUN
• Funding: $3,000

TwilightFUN is a free, eight-week, non-competitive indoor sports program aimed at encouraging social inclusion and participation for 12-24 year old's in a fun way. The program is entirely free and includes dinner, uniforms and transport home each week. It is also a safe outlet where young people are encouraged to participate in life skills workshops in order to become more physically, socially and mentally healthy.

Soccajoeys Foundation

• Project: Soccajoeys Foundation Next Step Program - Inner West NSW
• Funding: $2,768

This project will introduce Soccajoeys Next Step Program to the Inner West. The program is free for parents; evidence based, inclusive and multidisciplinary and aims to narrow the divide between children’s access to mainstream and special needs sport. It provides tailored soccer classes for children aged 3-9 years that are diagnosed with a disability.

Burwood Football Club

• Project: Female Football Development
• Funding: $2,750

A series of three-day football camps for females only.

Petersham Junior Rugby Club

• Project: Come Try Rugby
• Funding: $2,500

A community ‘Come Try Rugby’ day. The event will have various rugby based activities and skills sessions where kids of various ages can be introduced to the game under the guidance of our experienced coaches. There will be a free sausage sizzle, family fun day activities and lots of friendly Petersham Junior Rugby players, parents and carers to welcome new and interested children and people to the event and rugby.

Petersham Junior Rugby Club

• Project: Come Try Rugby
• Funding: $2,500

A community ‘Come Try Rugby’ day. The event will have various rugby based activities and skills sessions where kids of various ages can be introduced to the game under the guidance of our experienced coaches. There will be a free sausage sizzle, family fun day activities and lots of friendly Petersham Junior Rugby players, parents and carers to welcome new and interested children and people to the event and rugby.

Marrickville Cricket Club

• Project: Junior Cricket Coaching and First-Aid Kits
• Funding: $2,500

The funding will offset the cost to our club for: Pre-season and early season professional training for new teams - especially our three new girls teams and the new under-11 teams, and; Purchasing first-aid kits for every team.

Participate Australia Limited

• Project: Water activities for Children with Intellectual Disability
• Funding: $2,006

The project will deliver five sessions of water activities to children with an intellectual disability during school holidays, with a view to promote their physical fitness and to give them the opportunities to enjoy some recreation activities with their peers. The activities will be designed according to their level of ability and delivered by experienced instructors.

ACC Cricket Club

• Project: Cricket Champions Without Borders
• Funding: $2,000

Cricket Champions Without Borders aims to celebrate local, diverse communities through a Cricket Picnic event with Uniform, Caps, Support buttons/ribbons particular to each event. These events include: Sydney Mardi Gras Festival: Mid Feb to end of the first week in March; NAIDOC Week: First week July; Lunar Spring Festival: Friday 12 February, and; Arabic Festival: Eid May 13 - July 31.

Australian Foundation for Disability

• Project: Modified Sports and Recreational Activities for People with Disabilities Ashfield
• Funding: $2,000

This project is to encourage people with disabilities and high support needs who attend The Australian Foundation for Disability's Ashfield Community Participation Day Program to participate in a number of social activities and excursions with fellow members of their Participation Day Program. They will encourage a diverse range of activities, including going to a football game, going to the zoo and aquarium and providing a number of modified sporting activities and recreational activities, such as going to the movies.