Deadline: 31-Aug-26
The Glencore Junior Sports Development Program provides funding to incorporated, not-for-profit sporting clubs and associations in Queensland’s coal mining regions to strengthen junior sport participation and long-term club capacity. Eligible organisations can receive up to $7,500 for projects that improve participation, safety, financial sustainability, equipment, health outcomes, or life skills for children under 18.
What Is the Glencore Junior Sports Development Program?
The Glencore Junior Sports Development Program is part of Glencore Coal’s Community Investment Program in Queensland.
The programme supports sporting clubs and associations that want to build stronger, more sustainable junior sports programmes and increase opportunities for children to participate in organised sport.
The focus is on long-term capacity building, rather than funding routine operating expenses or short-term costs.
Projects should create lasting benefits for junior participants and help local clubs become more capable, financially sustainable, safe, and inclusive.
What Are the Main Funding Priorities?
Funding is prioritised for projects that provide measurable and lasting benefits to children and sporting organisations.
Priority areas include:
- Increasing the capacity of clubs to accommodate more junior participants.
- Increasing children’s participation in regular sport.
- Improving participant safety and health outcomes.
- Purchasing major equipment with long-term value.
- Improving the financial viability of sporting clubs.
- Supporting positive mental health and life skills.
- Strengthening the long-term sustainability of junior sporting programmes.
- Encouraging collaboration between different sporting codes in the same community.
Projects that benefit a larger number of junior participants and demonstrate strong value for money are particularly encouraged.
Who Is the Program For?
The programme is designed specifically for children under 18 years of age and the sporting organisations that support their participation.
The applicant must be a sporting club or association capable of delivering a project that improves junior participation or organisational capacity over the medium to long term.
How Much Funding Is Available?
Eligible clubs or associations can apply for up to $7,500 per project.
Projects costing more than $7,500 can still be considered, but applicants must demonstrate that:
- Additional funding has been secured or will be secured.
- The complete project budget is realistic.
- The organisation can implement the entire project.
- The proposed funding structure is financially sustainable.
Glencore funding should therefore be treated as one component of the overall project financing where the total project cost exceeds the grant limit.
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must be:
- Incorporated organisations.
- Not-for-profit sporting clubs or associations.
- Located in or serving communities within Glencore Coal Assets Australia’s Queensland operational areas.
Relevant communities include:
- Collinsville/Scottville.
- Glenden.
- Tieri/Capella.
- Clermont.
- Rolleston/Springsure.
- Wandoan/Taroom.
- Nebo/Pioneer Valley.
The project should primarily benefit junior participants in communities associated with Glencore’s Queensland coal operations.
Who Is Not Eligible?
The programme does not accept applications from:
- Individuals.
- For-profit organisations.
- Organisations outside the relevant Glencore Queensland operational areas.
Projects that do not provide a meaningful junior sports benefit are also unlikely to meet the programme’s objectives.
What Projects Can Be Funded?
Projects should strengthen the long-term capacity of junior sporting organisations.
Examples of potentially suitable activities include:
- Purchasing major sporting equipment with lasting value.
- Improving facilities or equipment to safely accommodate more children.
- Projects that enable a club to expand junior participation.
- Initiatives that improve health and safety for young athletes.
- Projects supporting positive mental health and life skills.
- Collaborative projects involving multiple sporting clubs.
- Capacity-building initiatives that improve the sustainability of junior sport.
The strongest projects are those that benefit a significant number of children and produce benefits beyond a single sporting season.
What Costs Are Not Eligible?
Grant funding cannot be used for:
- Junior registration fees.
- Travel.
- Accommodation.
- Consumable items.
- Ongoing operational costs.
- Projects that have already been completed.
Applicants should distinguish between capital or capacity-building investments and routine club expenses.
Why Does the Program Matter?
Junior sport can contribute to children’s physical health, social connection, confidence, teamwork, and wellbeing.
The Glencore programme focuses on strengthening the organisations that provide these opportunities.
By investing in equipment, safety, participation capacity, and club sustainability, projects can help sporting organisations provide more consistent opportunities for children over the longer term.
How to Apply
Step 1: Confirm Your Organisation’s Eligibility
Check that your club or association is incorporated, not-for-profit, and located in or serving an eligible Queensland Glencore operational community.
Step 2: Identify the Junior Sports Need
Clearly explain the challenge facing your club.
For example, the organisation may need additional equipment or capacity to accommodate growing numbers of junior participants.
Step 3: Define the Project
Explain exactly what will be funded and how the project will improve junior sport.
Identify:
- The activities.
- The expected number of beneficiaries.
- The project timeline.
- The expected long-term benefits.
Step 4: Demonstrate Long-Term Impact
Explain how the project will enable more children to participate or improve the club’s ability to provide safe and sustainable sporting opportunities.
Applications should focus on benefits beyond the immediate funding period.
Step 5: Prepare the Budget
Provide a realistic project budget.
If the project costs more than $7,500, clearly identify the additional funding sources and demonstrate that the complete project can be delivered.
Step 6: Demonstrate Value for Money
Explain how the requested funding will benefit the maximum possible number of junior participants.
Where relevant, highlight collaboration with other local sporting organisations.
Step 7: Submit the Application
Submit the application according to Glencore’s current Community Investment Program requirements and provide all requested organisational, financial, project, and budget information.
Tips for a Strong Application
Applicants should:
- Quantify how many children will benefit.
- Explain the current participation or capacity problem.
- Demonstrate a clear long-term benefit.
- Prioritise projects with lasting value.
- Explain how the project improves safety, health, or wellbeing.
- Demonstrate financial sustainability.
- Consider collaboration with other sporting clubs.
- Provide a detailed and realistic budget.
- Show strong value for money.
- Explain why Glencore funding is important to completing the project.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Requesting funding for registration fees.
- Including travel or accommodation costs.
- Applying for routine operating expenses.
- Requesting funding for consumables.
- Applying for a project that has already been completed.
- Failing to demonstrate benefits for children under 18.
- Providing no evidence of long-term impact.
- Ignoring additional funding requirements for projects above $7,500.
- Failing to explain how many junior participants will benefit.
- Submitting an application from an individual or for-profit organisation.
Key Details at a Glance
- Programme: Glencore Junior Sports Development Program
- Funder: Glencore Coal
- Country: Australia
- State: Queensland
- Target applicants: Incorporated, not-for-profit sporting clubs and associations
- Maximum funding: $7,500 per club or association
- Target beneficiaries: Children under 18
- Main focus: Junior sports participation and long-term club capacity
- Priority areas: Participation, safety, health, major equipment, financial viability, mental health, and life skills
- Eligible locations: Selected Queensland communities within Glencore Coal Assets Australia’s operational areas
- Projects above $7,500: Additional investment must be secured and the full project must be financially viable
- Ineligible costs: Registration fees, travel, accommodation, consumables, ongoing operational costs, and completed projects
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Glencore Junior Sports Development Program?
It is a Glencore Community Investment Program designed to strengthen junior sporting clubs and increase sustainable participation among children under 18 in Queensland coal mining communities.
How much funding can a sporting club receive?
A club or association can receive up to $7,500 for an eligible junior sports development project.
Who can apply?
Incorporated, not-for-profit sporting clubs and associations located in or serving eligible Queensland communities within Glencore Coal Assets Australia’s operational areas can apply.
What types of projects are prioritised?
Projects that increase junior participation, improve safety or health, purchase major equipment with lasting value, strengthen financial viability, or support positive mental health and life skills are prioritised.
Can a project costing more than $7,500 be proposed?
Yes. However, the applicant must secure additional investment and demonstrate how the entire project will be funded and implemented.
Can the grant pay for junior registration fees?
No. Registration fees are specifically excluded, along with travel, accommodation, consumables, ongoing operational costs, and projects that have already been completed.
Are collaborative projects encouraged?
Yes. Projects involving collaboration between different sporting codes in the same local area are encouraged, particularly where collaboration increases participation, improves efficiency, or delivers benefits to a larger number of junior participants.
Conclusion
The Glencore Junior Sports Development Program provides targeted support for not-for-profit sporting organisations in Queensland’s Glencore operational communities to strengthen junior sport and create lasting participation opportunities for children under 18.
With funding of up to $7,500, the programme is best suited to projects that deliver measurable improvements in junior participation, safety, health, equipment, financial sustainability, mental wellbeing, and life skills. Strong applications should demonstrate clear community need, long-term impact, cost effectiveness, and the ability to benefit as many young participants as possible.
For more information, visit Glencore.
