04 Jul 2018 Benalla Ensign, Benalla VIC (General News) The Swanpool Bowling club has received $2970 in the latest round of VicHealths Active Club Grants, an initiative to encourage more Victorians to get physically active. The club will use the money to grow its modified lawn bowls program, which is a shorter competition for women, children and older people. This grant is part of more than $370 000 available to sporting clubs across Northern Victoria in the latest round of funding. Building on the momentum generated by VicHealths successful This Girl Can Victoria campaign, the new funding will also help local sport clubs across the state deliver more opportunities for women and girls to get active. The grants will provide more social, flexible and accessible sport programs as well as more opportunities for people from disadvantaged communities to take part in sport. State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes said the local grants would make a significant difference to clubs and help more residents get involved in community sport. We want to support locals to get active and embrace a healthy lifestyle, no matter what age, gender or ability, Ms Symes said. With these Active Club Grants, local sport clubs will be able to deliver a wider range of opportunities for everyone to get active, regardless of ability. Regular physical activity not only protects against many illnesses, it also supports us to be mentally healthy, alert and resilient against the stresses of modern life. Grassroots sports clubs are at the heart of our community, so I welcome this new funding that will make it easier for people to be active. VicHealth chief executive officer Jerril Rechter said the grants would help more Northern Victorian residents to make physical activity part of their day-to-day life. This program is about supporting Victorias grassroots sport clubs to provide a wider range of opportunities for more of the community to get involved in, Ms Rechter said. Through our This Girl Can Victoria campaign were seeing women across the state smashing old-fashioned stereotypes about what women can do in the gym, on the sports field and in our communities. This funding is about supporting clubs in Northern Victoria to enable more women and girls particularly those less active Victorians to get active in a sport theyre passionate about and want to take part in.