As part of a series from Healthy Families Ōtautahi which aims to minimise the harm caused by alcohol, the team have embarked on “Healthy Sports Clubs”, which involves exploring how to support clubs and Regional Sport Organisations to look at healthier funding and sponsorship options - outside of alcohol.

Following on from insights gathered by those who play club sport and those who support it, Phase Two of Healthy Sports Clubs involves Healthy Families Ōtautahi working alongside Barrer & Co, a consultancy who support charities and clubs around Ōtautahi – and Aotearoa - with their fundraising and revenue streams.

Barrer & Co, alongside Healthy Families Ōtautahi and in conjunction with Te Whatu Ora, have met and worked with three different Rugby League groups (the Eastern Eagles, the Shirley Hawks, and The Pacific Series) who are keen to reduce their reliance on funding from unhealthy commodities, such as gambling, fast food, tobacco, and alcohol.

Barrer & Co are now in the process of reviewing each group’s current fundraising situation and will start work with them how they can more sustainably grow their revenue for their club members - without relying on the unhealthy commodities mentioned above. The clubs will be presented with a short-, medium- and long-term plan for their fundraising, with the hope that these learnings can be replicated across other clubs in Ōtautahi, and Aotearoa, who are also wanting to find alternatives to their current sponsors.

Jemma Balmer, General Manager of Barrer & Co, had some excellent tips for clubs who are looking for alternative funding:

• Make sure you can communicate what you do really well – show the passion for your sport and why it is important, regardless of whether you’re sharing your impact in a face-to-face meeting or through written applications;
   
• The most successful funding collaborations have come from organisations funders who want to PARTNER with clubs rather than just sponsor them, and are really interested in their long-term vision, alongside what they are representing both on and off the field. So be sure to bring this information to the table when meeting prospective partners.

Balmer says Barrer & Co can already see the impact of working with these three groups – “it’s about the sports, but it’s about so much more than the healthy funding within the sport. It’s about the players and their whānau, their connection to the culture, and their communities”.

Work continues with the Healthy Sports Club initiative, but we are excited to see what happens next with the three Rugby League groups and how they can move away from unhealthy sponsorships. 

Article added: Tuesday 04 July 2023