Alongside its physical tolls, the pandemic’s isolation has been hard on our mental health — particularly for youth who are still developing relationships and social skills. As we ease back into face-to-face activities, many families are using sport to help adjust.<\/p>\n
“Sport BC believes in the transformative power of sport, and we’re excited about its return for our members and for kids across the province, but we also know there are many families who will struggle financially as a result of the pandemic,” says Rob Newman, Sport BC’s President & CEO. “Sport BC is proud of the impact of our signature program, KidSport<\/a>, and are ready to help even more families.”<\/p>\n Participation in sport helps children gain confidence, build friendships and develop healthy habits, but across BC kids are being left on the sidelines because they don’t have the resources to play. That’s where KidSport comes in. Through a confidential application process, KidSport provides grants to kids aged 18 and under (from families facing financial barriers) to help cover the cost of registration fees for a season of sport.<\/p>\n “This means so much to my daughter’s well-being,” writes one grateful parent. “She has had a bit of trouble settling back at school after missing so much from COVID. This will be six months of a healthy sport that will help her focus and build up her self-esteem.”<\/p>\n