More than 200 children will take to the sporting fields with new equipment this winter, thanks to the Equip-Me for Sport program.

The program, a partnership between the City of Gosnells, Fair Game Australia and the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries, provides free second-hand equipment to local families on low incomes.

Mayor Terresa Lynes said that requests for Equip-Me for Sport had increased from 173 last winter to over 200 this season.

“More than 630 items of individual sporting equipment, including balls, shoes, hockey sticks, tennis racquets and more, are now being distributed to local children, so they can participate in a club sport this winter,” she said.

“Club sports help children to be active, learn new skills, make friends, improve their health and make valuable connections in the community.

“Feedback from recipients has been overwhelmingly positive, with 45 per cent reporting they would not have been able to play their chosen sport without access to the Equip-Me initiative. Many parents said they struggled to afford sports equipment.”

The most popular items requested this year were footwear, including football boots and running shoes, and balls including netballs, AFL balls and soccer balls.

The initiative was piloted in the City of Gosnells in 2020 and has now been picked up by two other local governments.