Grant for Badminton Thames Valley

A $5000 grant from the New Zealand Community Trust has been flicked to Badminton Thames Valley to cover the cost of its shuttlecocks.
Badminton Thames Valley president for two years Jeremy Rout told The Profile the costs of shuttlecocks was always increasing in the current market.
“We’re always extremely grateful for any funding that we get and New Zealand Community Trust has been a massive supporter of ours over the last few years,” he said.
“Shuttles are obviously something we need to play badminton which is a huge cost every year and to receive it is awesome and we’re just so grateful to the community trust for providing that to us for another year.”
Jeremy said around 12 shuttles were contained in each tube which cost between $35 and $40 and were used within the trainings, representative programme, and the interclub and junior programmes at Badminton Thames Valley.
“It’s probably the most significant cost we have because you can’t use them all the time,” he said.
“Because once you use them quite a lot they start to fall apart and the shuttle slows down or it doesn’t quite head in the right direction when you hit it.
“You could go through a tube of shuttles per night and it certainly adds up.”
Jeremy said Badminton Thames Valley received the grant in December 2022 and also received a $2200 grant from The Lion Foundation in March 2022 which went towards new uniforms with the new Badminton Thames Valley logo.
Jeremy said the organisation planned to maximise its junior players and coaching programme and competitions in 2023.
“The last couple of years through covid has been quite challenging in terms of some of the events we’ve run and this season just gone has been the first season where we could run a full calendar of events which is about eight events throughout the season,” he said.
“One of the big things we’re really focusing on [in 2023] is our junior programme and we’ve been connecting with schools all around the region to try and get more badminton out into our community.
“We understand badminton is a rapidly growing sport all around the country and there’s a lot of people who want to get into some form of exercise and we want to make sure we have accessibility around the region to be able to have people try badminton.
“One of the New Zealand Badminton strategic objectives is for people to love badminton for life because it’s such a quality sport that is for all ages and abilities.”
Jeremy said Badminton Thames Valley had four affiliated clubs in Thames, Paeroa, Waihī and Morrinsville which have between 20 and 30 fully paid members and a “whole heap” of casual members.
“In terms of who plays representatively for Thames Valley Badminton, we have three teams that compete in the New Zealand Inter-Association competition, which is three age groups,” he said.
“There’s an open senior age group and we have about 12 team members, and we have our masters team which is 35 years and over which has about eight to 10 players and then the veterans which are over 50s and that has eight to ten players as well.”
Jeremy said the Badminton Thames Valley 2023 season begins in March.