BALLARAT Sports Foundation has provided financial support for the Ballarat Red Devils Football Club junior cultural and diverse language program.
Our club is proud to assist refugee players with a pathway to inclusion and engagement through football.
- Reds director Michael Bardsley
The Reds were a recipient at the foundation’s latest scholarship round on Thursday.
The foundation presented 11 scholarships to athletes in seven sports at a presentation function at the Ballarat Regional Soccer Facility.
The funding for the Ballarat Red Devils will be used to support players from various cultural programs playing in junior academy teams.
Reds junior academy director Michael Bardsley said the club was committed to helping strengthen the Ballarat community by breaking down cultural barriers and providing a safe sporting environment where children could learn and grow.
“Our club is proud to assist refugee players with a pathway to inclusion and engagement through football.”
He said the club had a rich cultural diversity, with players from Europe, the United Kingdom, Afghanistan, Burundi, Ghana, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Togo and Sudan.
“Bringing cultures together strengthens our community, economy and way of life,” Bardsley said.
He said the scholarship would help fund player registration and coaching fees.
Ballarat athletics coach Neville Down was guest speaker at the gathering, which was attended by about 50 guests.
The round 62 scholarships takes the amount of funding distributed to $425,000 since the foundation was formed in 2015.
There have been 1198 recipients covering 74 sports.
The foundation, which has distance running legend Steve Moneghetti as patron, has three scholarship rounds each year.
One more round remains for this calendar, with applications open to athletes, coaches, administrators and sporting organisations.
