Energy Trust grant invests in the future of sporting diversity in the Eastern Bay

A Whakatane sports club, which has recently celebrated its 50-year anniversary, is welcoming a $60,000 grant, which will help secure the code’s future sustainability.

Whakatane Squash Rackets Club President Mark Fell says the grant from the Eastern Bay Energy Trust will enable significant improvements within the club and playing environment.

“Like many sports clubs, we are facing reduced income and difficulty competing for grant funding, so minimising our fixed costs is vitally important.  The funding from the Trust will allow us to install more energy efficient heating and lighting systems, which will reduce our bottom line, be better for the environment and contribute to the club’s overall sustainability.”

Mr Fell says the club has recently appointed a fulltime Club Manager/Coach who is implementing a player development programme, including the establishment of a Junior Squash Academy.   “We’re confident that the physical improvements we can make with the Energy Trust funding will also help grow membership and enable the club to attract national squash events to the district.”

The July meeting of the Eastern Bay Energy Trust also saw a number of grants approved from its fund supporting community events:

• EBOP Business & Leisure Show ($1,000 towards sound, video and lighting hire for the public demonstration areas at the event to be held 26 – 28 August 2016)

• Have a Heart Charitable Trust ($3,000 towards sound and lighting hire for the 2016 Yeah Nah It’s Not OK Eastern Bay Song Quest)

• Kawerau District Council ($4,725.96 towards sound and audio visual system hire for the 2016 Kawerau Woodfest event)

• Whakatane District Council ($2,000 towards sound and speaker system hire for the Kiwi Junior Rugby League Festival).