Recent financial assistance provided by New Zealand Community Trust is set to help create more jobs in the Bay of Plenty.

A total of $25,000 has been received by Parafed Bay of Plenty to go towards the salaries of a coach force development officer and executive officer.

The organisation has been around since 1968, helping to develop sporting opportunities for people with physical disabilities.

Parafed Bay of Plenty treasurer Neil Cudby says the organisation has a governance board that leads two operational staff: a coach force development officer and executive officer.

The organisation applied at NZCT for the staff salaries required to gain leverage for volunteers delivering effective board governance, multiple sport code committees with development plans, new programme plans, budgets and profile marketing.

"We are fortunate to have a wealth of experience and passion from these people for the disabled community that is infectious," says Neil.

"Parafed Bay of Plenty now has, for example, a renewed emphasis on youth development. This not only involves young people and their families in sport, but it also strengthens local pathways to Paralympics."

He says the coach force development officer and executive officer are also responsible for several events, such as the Festival of Disability Sport in March.

"During the festival, our staff will be working with volunteers to create a safe and sustainable event that will showcase four dynamic national para-sports to the wider Bay of Plenty community. This event will put Parafed on the map.

"The development and executive officer are the glue that bond this community of volunteers to multiple opportunities for our athletes.

'Without NZCT's grant, our impact would only be a small percentage of what this staff makes possible. I am excited about the future. We are getting real buy-in from our local communities, and the rest of the country is taking notice," concludes Neil.