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13 May 2026
Lions Mini Golf Blog

Goalball Titans Grant

Looking Back: How the 2025 Lions Grant Helped the Goalball Titans

As we move through another year of community service at Middle Districts Lions Club, we’ve been reflecting on some of the incredible local projects we supported last year. One standout from our 2025 grants was the Manawatu Goalball Titans Sportsclub. Supporting sight and vision initiatives is a core pillar of our mission, and seeing the Titans in action was a true highlight.

What was the project?

Formed in 2023, the Manawatu Goalball Titans Sportsclub is a Palmerston North-based team dedicated to the sport of Goalball. Goalball is a high-energy team sport designed specifically for athletes who are blind or have low vision. Players use their hearing to track a ball with bells inside and dive to block it from entering their goal. It is an incredible display of focus, communication, and teamwork that brings our local vision-impaired community together.

Why it mattered

While the sport is designed for the vision-impaired, the Titans have worked hard to make it an inclusive game that anyone in the Manawatū can learn. To ensure the club's future, they needed to increase their profile and build a stronger foundation of qualified officials and volunteers.

The Lions' Impact

The Lions Club of Middle Districts was proud to support the Titans with a $1000 grant, which funded two pivotal events in September 2025:

  • Training Day (14 September 2025): This session allowed current coaches and referees to sharpen their skills, run drills, and build the confidence needed to lead high-quality training for the players.

  • Open Day (21 September 2025): A successful community recruitment drive aimed at finding new volunteer coaches and referees from across the city.

"Looking back at our 2025 grants, the Titans' project remains a favorite. Supporting the blind and partially sighted community is part of our DNA as Lions, and helping these athletes 'hear the game' has made a lasting impact on inclusive sport in Palmy."

Lasting Benefits of the Grant:

  • Empowered local coaches and referees with professional development.

  • Provided a safe, inclusive space for blind and low-vision residents to stay active.

  • Strengthened the club’s volunteer base through community outreach.

  • Raised the profile of adaptive sports within the Manawatū region.

We are so proud of what the Titans achieved with this $1000 grant. To see more of our past impact or to apply for a current grant, feel free to explore the rest of our news and projects on our blog.

To learn more about Goalball in Palmy https://parafedmanawatu.com/activities

To learn more about Goalball NZ https://www.facebook.com/GOALBALLNZ/