Welcome to the Ignite Sport Centre! It's the home of all things Ignite Sport and a new community facility serving the people of Te Awa Kairangi. The facility is the base of Ignite Sport Trust and its work with young people. The centre is available for community groups to hire.
Facilities include:
For all booking enquiries please email bookings@ignitesport.org.nz or Phone 027 363 5094
In 2019, we challenged ourselves and the wider community to dream of a centre that would serve the work of Ignite Sport well into the future and to be a facility that the wider community could use.
Hutt City Council’s plans to re-develop premises we were based in, resulted in Ignite Sport needing to investigate other venue options. With a growing team, new opportunities, and increased numbers of young people, we needed a permanent purpose-built facility. In August 2019 Ignite Sport received the exciting news that our offer to purchase Lower Hutt City Association Football Club’s building on Bell Park was accepted. We urgently needed to raise the purchase price which we achieved in just five weeks from the generous donations from many individuals. We knew it was a big project but we were optimistic that the challenge before us was never as great as the support behind us. It was game on for Ignite Sport.
Then came the challenge to renovate and refurbish what was a tired former football club into a purpose built facility that would serve Ignite Sport, its young people and the community. After further fundraising, applying for grants, consulting and collaborating with Hutt City Council and our neighbourhood, work began. Design, planning and construction was slow as we all navigated COVID-19, but with the generosity of many individuals, trusts, trades and services we got the job done.
Hutt City Council partnered with us and agreed to fund the multi-sport artificial courts which were completed in 2022. Collaboration with local government has been critical in developing what is a unique community focused asset. We can do so much more when we do it together.
On April 22nd 2023 we officially opened the Ignite Sport Centre. Over 500 people attended events over the weekend to celebrate what has been a remarkable journey. It was a pleasure to host guests including dignitaries from Government, Hutt City Council and Petone Community Ward.
Future plans include the development of the green space at Bell Park to include a recreational path, landscaping and trees.
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August 2019 we asked for support to make the Ignite Sport Centre dream a reality. Since then our community has gone above and beyond. We raised $200,000 (in donations) in just over a month to purchase the building and then another $850,000 (in donations, grants and business sponsorship) to fully refurbish the building. This was a challenge but the generosity of our friends, supporters and the community saw us through.
To everyone who helped us reach our goal, we can't thank you enough!
Together we have created a unique, youth inspired, youth focused centre that will serve not only this generation but many more to come.
A special thanks to our business partners who have generously given their time and expertise. Please see our team of sponsors below.
