Collingwood Football Club handballs help to young basketballers residing in public housing.

Living their mantra 'Side by Side We Stick Together', Collingwood Football Club and their Foundation have entered into a partnership with Collingwood College and the Collingwood Basketball Association. The Magpies will support access programs for local public housing residents, and get behind a proposal for a new sporting facility at the College. The stadium development has been a key local issue in the upcoming state election.  

In a meeting organised by Yarra Cllr and candidate for seat of Richmond, Stephen Jolly,  Collingwood Football Club President Eddie McGuire committed to working with the school and basketball association, saying, 'Our three organisations have a proud history of social responsibility and support for the local Collingwood community. Our guiding objective is to help build a stronger community and to be the biggest philanthropic sporting organisation in Australia, so we are very pleased to be able to assist institutions that inspire young people to do their best.'

Collingwood College Principal Dale Perichon agreed: 'The College is at the base of the Collingwood Housing Estate. Our current sporting and arts facilities have high usage rates and can no longer cope with local demand. It is great to have one of the power houses of Australian sport supporting our proposal for upgrading the facilities at Collingwood College to create a community hub that local young people can be proud of.'

Collingwood Basketball Association was established more than 30 years ago, and according to Megan Rouse, Operations Manager, the Club has a focus on removing social, financial and cultural barriers to playing basketball. 'We are committed to ensuring that all local young people have the opportunity to benefit from sports participation. Through our programs we have created a melting pot of cultures, languages and backgrounds and we are thrilled that Collingwood Football Club are recognising the work we do in the community and getting behind our stadium proposal'.

In the lead up to the Victorian State Election, Collingwood Basketball Association has been campaigning for a three court stadium at Collingwood College. In the past 4 years there has been a 60% increase in player numbers with more than 1000 young people participating in programs. More than 10% of these players reside in public housing, and many are from South Sudanese background. As a result of this growth, the Club is struggling to find suitable sporting facilities for training and games in the inner-north and for the first time in its history is  starting to turn players away.  A business case has been developed with Collingwood College that outlines the need for more sports facilities in the inner north and explains why the College is the ideal site for a new development. 

Contact Emer Diviney - 0400 100 596 to arrange interviews with Eddie McGuire, Dale Perichon, Megan Rouse or Stephen Jolly or to be sent briefing documentation on the stadium proposal.