A total of $25,970 is being distributed to organisations in the Western Bay of Plenty as Sport Bay of Plenty completes the third and final round of Kiwisport Funding allocations.

Marketing and sponsor manager Melanie Short says 26 organisations, including clubs and schools, received funding in the Western Bay of Plenty.

Kiwisport is a government funding initiative to promote sport for school-aged children.

Katikati College received $800 to purchase volleyball equipment, enabling the college to host an inaugural volleyball competition.

Melanie says Te Whare Kura o Mauao received $1000 to purchase equipment for lunchtime activities.

She says this will allow the school to grow the number of teams participating in school competitions and events.

The money is allocated through the Regional Partnership Fund, coordinated by Sport Bay of Plenty for use in Bay of Plenty communities.

'This allocation is calculated on a per-capita basis based on the number of students in the region.”

Melanie says the RPF has specific purposes including the number of school-aged children participating in organised sport.

She says the fund also aims to increase the availability and accessibility of sporting opportunities.

'In the third round of funding, Sport Bay of Plenty received 152 applications for the KickStart project fund.

'The fund is available to each of the three sub-regions for smaller initiatives, up to $2000, assisting in the achievement of the objectives of KiwiSport.”

She says the priority is given to initiatives reducing the cost or showing innovation.

A total of $83,000 was allocated in different clubs, schools and other community organisations in the whole Bay of Plenty.