Tyler Redway
FOUR Reasons Why is once again encouraging youth to be more active in everyday life, while offering the Sports Membership Assistance Program (SMAP) to help with funding a multitude of sporting activities and equipment purchases.
Four Reasons Why founder Trudi Shelton said the SMAP program would now apply to the new Wulanda Sport and Recreation centre, meaning children may have the opportunity to use the vouchers provided as a means to access new facilities such as Wulanda if they were unable to previously.
“If people want to try it out but people can’t afford it, then Four Reasons Why is a source of funding to keep your child active and engaged which improves self esteem, mental health and keeps them involved in the community,” Ms Shelton said.
“We run this program all year round, it’s not just for summer or winter sports because some of them do run for the whole year.”
Ms Shelton urged people who happened to find themselves in financial hardship to consider applying for SMAP to benefit their children’s mental health.
She also said the program would be able to cover multiple children if needed.
“I know what it’s like because I have four children who have all played sports and I used to struggle to get them to places, which is why this source of extra funding is here,” she said.
“It’s also a great way to have connections to people and potential employers so there are all sorts of wonderful things which can come from being active.”
The program, which provides for youth aged between 9-25 years, has the ability to cover most mainstream sporting programs, as well as Scouts and gym memberships.
“We really believe in this, we have the money and the funding here, we just need people to be aware of how they can apply,” Ms Shelton said.
“Once people hear more about the SMAP program and how it can be a way a child can access the new centre, then I’m really hoping it does increase the program’s popularity and the amount of applications coming in while also helping council and the people who may be prohibited from using it.”
Those interested in applying for funding from the SMAP program can enquire through Four Reasons Why’s contact details through their social media pages.
