Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) today announced it has been granted funds from the Minister for Sport and Recreation’s Discretionary Fund to distribute to young people aged 12 – 18 with an impairment eligible for Para sport, or organisations supporting them who couldn’t otherwise obtain funding to fund equipment, subscriptions, access to facilities, coaching, camps and associated fees. 
 
This Fund will support PNZ’s vision of ‘Excellence and Equity through Sport’ as it provides individuals and organisations with an opportunity to secure funding for Para sport related activities that these organisations or individuals have not been able to obtain from other sources.
 
Fiona Allan (Chief Executive, PNZ) said: “We are pleased to be working with the Minister for Sport and Recreation to provide an opportunity to grow participation and development of Para sport in New Zealand. It is well documented that disabled people have more barriers to increasing their participation than non-disabled people, financial barriers being one of these. This Fund will allow individuals and organisations that ordinarily struggle to get funding to utilise financial support that will ensure more young females are able to have positive, rewarding Para sport experiences.”
 
She continued: “New Zealand has had 209 Paralympians represent our country at a Paralympic Games since 1968, with many more young Para athletes aspiring to do the same as their sporting heroes and build on their success. As the National Paralympic Committee for New Zealand it is our goal to increase participation in Para sport and work with organisations to provide opportunities for Para athletes throughout New Zealand.”
 
The Fund will provide support for a range of activities such as equipment, subscriptions, access to facilities, coaching, camps and associated fees. We encourage young people aged 12 – 18 years with an impairment eligible for Para sport, or organisations supporting them to apply.
 
Applications are now open and will close on Wednesday 26 June, 5.00pm NZT.
 
Full details including an  application form and information sheet can be found here or by contacting PNZ on info@paralympics.org.nz or 09 526 0760.
 
 
 
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Notes:

• Paralympics New Zealand is the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) for New Zealand. We are a charity and our overall vision is ‘Excellence & Equity through Sport’. As a member of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), we are part of a worldwide social change movement, which uses the power of sport to positively influence community perceptions of disabled people and to promote a more diverse and inclusive society

To do this, we support and celebrate the achievements of Para athletes at international and national competitions all year round. Every two years, we lead New Zealand teams to the Paralympic Games. We also work in the local community to advocate for sport to become more accessible for disabled people and to support the creation of more systems and programmes to enable participation in Para sport.

Our funding comes from a mix of public donations, fundraisers, philanthropic partners, commercial partners, plus government and community grants, which together make our Para sport, community and advocacy programmes possible.

• To find out more about us, please visit about
• To support Paralympics New Zealand click here
• The Spirit of Gold® Initiative is an award-winning long-term campaign to increase awareness and raise much-needed funding to firstly, support the Para athletes on the road to Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games and beyond. Secondly, to help PNZ invest in developing Para sport across New Zealand.

• Funded through Vote Sport and Recreation, the Minister for Sport and Recreation has a $44,000 Discretionary Fund each year. 
• The fund is to support groups, individuals and organisations that are unable to obtain support through organisations such as Sport New Zealand, local government, or the New Zealand Lottery Grants Board, to support sports-related initiatives including participation in sport and recreation activities.