NSW Labor have committed $8 million over four years to fund Macarthur FC’s Bulls in Schools program if elected in the state election later this weekend.
On Thursday, the opposition government announced that they would fund the initiative along with other various community programs ran by the club.
The Bulls and Schools programs – that have already engaged with about 50,000 children – have been delivered by Macarthur’s community coaches, in order to promote health and wellness to school children between Year 3-6 through football.
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These programs also aim to provide cost-of-living relief to families who can enrol their children free of charge.
Macarthur expects the year-long program to help an additional 20,000 children per year in Sydney’s South West
“We are a dedicated community club and this commitment by Chris Minns and NSW Labor will go a long way to making a difference in South West Sydney,” Macarthur FC chairman Gino Marra said.
“Community is at the heart of everything we do at Macarthur FC and it gives me great pride to say that we have had more than 50,000 kids from our region participate in our Bulls in Schools program.”
The programs will continue to work with local football associations, community groups and schools to promote further female participation.
While the commitment also supports a Multicultural Community Engagement Program, which hopes to boost Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities’ participation in football throughout the local area.
“As a keen footballer I understand the power of sport to be a connector within our community,” NSW Labor candidate for Liverpool, Charishma Kaliyand said.
“I am proud that a Minns Labor Government will work with the Macarthur Bulls to ensure local schoolkids can learn the benefits of physical activity, inclusion and harmony, teamwork, communication, motor skills and hand-eye coordination.”
This comes the NSW Government pledged $12.5 million expedite construction of a new Macarthur FC Centre of Excellence in Camden.
Pending re-election, the government will provide the funding for a site already bought by the club’s owners, with construction slated to start later this year.
