BayActive, a division of Bay Venues, has secured funding to provide six local, low decile primary schools the chance to take part in active play and recreational sport throughout the next year.

The funding was provided by Sport NZ's new Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa Fund administered locally by Sport Bay of Plenty.

The fund was launched in August to support programmes that deliver play, active recreation and sport experiences for young people missing out.

Sport Bay of Plenty sport manager Nick Chambers says the Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa fund is an opportunity to make a difference for tamariki and rangatahi who are inactive because they can't access existing opportunities, or they are disengaged.

"The BayActive project is a great example of hearing what young people in our local communities want and need, and ensuring we support projects that will give those young people positive experiences with physical activity."

Introducing and maintaining physical literacy is essential to our tamariki's development says BayActive manager Shane Gillum.

'They'll play a range of sports to learn the key fundamental skills of sport and play. This is something that should be readily available to all young people.”

There are two parts to the BayActive programme; children participate in active play and facilitated sport.

Active play will consist of climbing equipment and obstacle courses with a holistic free play approach, to improve children's physical, cognitive, social/emotional and spiritual development.

Sports and activities follow and include a range of traditional and non-traditional sports like floorball (similar to indoor hockey) and Danish Longball, to introduce the students to different sports/games which can appeal to a range of students.

The programme will be facilitated at the Trustpower Arena and the funding will cover the cost of the programme and transporting tamariki and teachers from school and back.

The transportation costs are often what makes taking part in this programme unattainable for low decile schools.

'Normally parents pay for the programme and the transport costs, which are very high,” says Gillum.

'We can't wait to invite these six schools to take part in the programme at no cost to the school or parents.”

BayActive is operated by Bay Venues Limited who manages 24 venues across Tauranga and several programmes within these facilities to provide enrichment to the community. Including BaySwim, Bay Venues Learn to Swim programme, which is another recipient of Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding.

This funding will provide the Water Skills for Life Programme to the most vulnerable tamariki in our community at no cost to families.

This programme is also supported by Water Safety NZ and NZCT.