Stick Together project continues for community initiatives providing accessible hockey to underserved communities across Canada
From grass roots to high performance, Field Hockey Canada is working to develop and strengthen field hockey across the country. Approximately 18,000 field hockey players across the country dedicate themselves to the sport at all levels, from community hockey to high performance.
We Stick Together
Stick Together is a project funded through the Government of Canada’s Community Sport for All Initiative (CSAI). Its purpose is to remove barriers and increase participation rates for underserved groups, as defined by the Government of Canada: Indigenous peoples, Black, 2SLGBTQQIA+, Low income, Newcomers, Racialized or Persons with a Disability.
The Government of Canada’s continued support to FHC’s work in this area enables field hockey communities across Canada to Stick Together and build on the work started last year in offering sport to underserved groups. CEO Susan Ahrens said after the excellent community work of last year, Field Hockey Canada is pleased to be able to build on this program through the continued support.
“We are grateful to have received this funding from Government of Canada as it enables us to build on the amazing community work which took place last year,” Ahrens said. “We look forward to supporting more projects in more communities once again this year. A critical outcome of this phase of the project will be building a legacy resource which will be accessible to everyone and enable all underserved communities’ future access into our wonderful sport.”
Field Hockey Canada leads the governance and delivery of Stick Together. In addition to development of the legacy tool and leading direct delivery in targeted communities across Canada, Field Hockey Canada is opening applications for local projects which meet the criteria, to apply and be part of this project. If your club, school, or hockey community is serving underserved communities and meets the criteria, Field Hockey Canada encourages you to apply. An independent panel will lead funding allocations and strict reporting requirements are in place.
One exciting aspect of this year’s Stick Together is the involvement of national team athletes in supporting the delivery of the projects in their local areas. Strengthening the link between high performance and community work, these athletes will be visible role models in local communities. Rowan Harris, goalkeeper for the Women’s National Team, is thankful of the grassroots opportunities she had and said these projects are instrumental in providing access to hockey across the country.
“Our local communities gave us the opportunity to grow and follow our passion to play field hockey for Canada. With this funding from the government, we get to pay it forward, bringing the game to underserved communities across Canada,” Harris said. “We are thrilled for this opportunity to work with communities to help increase access for the next generation.”
If you would like to be part of Stick Together and help, bring hockey and sport to underserved groups in your region, please complete this form to apply for funding.
Who Can Apply
To be eligible, you must be a community-level organization targeting one or more of the following underserved groups (as defined by the Government of Canada):
- Indigenous peoples
- Black,
- 2SLGBTQQIA+,
- Low income,
- Newcomers,
- Racialized
- Persons with a Disability.
Apply today using the online application form. You will be required to submit information about your project including budget and community outreach plans.
Program Eligibility
To access this fund your organization must either:
- Have an existing project targeting equity-deserving groups which needs support or;
- Submit a program proposal for a new project that targets underserved groups.
Program Criteria
Whether it is a new or continuing your program proposal should demonstrate:
- Which area and underserved group it targets
- How it serves this group
- Identified leaders (off-field/administrative/counseling) – they should be local leaders and representative of the community so those we are targeting in each community can ‘see it to be it’
- The program must be offered at no cost and must be accessible – a budget should be included
- Community outreach through a communication and engagement plan. Local communities should be the focus so the project is also environmentally friendly in approach – g., you can walk there and access local sports provision
Field Hockey Canada will require you to plan and report against:
- Budget
- How your project achieved the objectives
- numbers involved in the programming
- retention of those in the program
- community / area specific trends of participation and retention
Application Process & Timeline
Eligible organizations should submit their application using the online application form.
- January 5, 2024 – Application Launch
- January 19, 2024 – Application Deadline
Successful recipients will be the receive follow-up communication regarding funds in the weeks following January 19, 2024.
2023 Community Projects
VANCOUVER HAWKS SCHOOLS PROGRAM PROMOTING COMMUNITY SPORT FOR ALL IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
The Vancouver Hawks coaches would bring all the equipment and a lesson plan and work with each class at an elementary school during the PE blocks of the week. The instruction ranged from standard physical literacy for the younger groups to game play and more technical skills with the older groups. The Hawks School Program successfully ran at 14 schools in Metro Vancouver and introduced field hockey to an estimated 6000 students between the age of five and 12. READ FULL STORY.
NEPEAN NIGHTHAWKS RUN BARRIER-FREE HOCKEY PROGRAM FOR INDIGENOUS YOUTH
The Stick Together program started in January and offered free Saturday beginner indoor hockey programs to Indigenous youth. The registrants joined the existing beginner workshops every Saturday for hockey instruction, culminating in tournament in March. The program included easy registration, free transportation, and equipment for the sessions. According to Chopra, program coordinator, the goal was to reduce barriers as much as possible. And with that, she feels like they reached a community in need of access to sport. READ FULL STORY
