The sports sub-committee of the Culture And Leisure Board of the City of Helsinki decided in its meeting on Thursday 15 May 2025 to grant targeted sports grants and grants to support regional sports activities for the year 2025. A total of 350,000 euros from the money allocated to sports grants was awarded as grants.
Targeted grants promote safer hobbies for children and young people
Targeted grants are discretionary grants awarded to sports clubs in 2025 for development work to promote safer hobbies for children and young people in sports clubs. Children and young people are able to be physically active in safe company without bullying, harassment, racism or other inappropriate behaviour. Inappropriate behaviour is intervened in quickly and proactively, and it is prevented through many means. A safe club environment offers positive experiences in an encouraging and respectful atmosphere, which promotes social safety and the communal spirit. A total of €150,000 was awarded to 15 sports clubs under this grant.
Focus also on preventing segregation
One of the focus areas for the activities of the Culture and Leisure Division in 2025 is the prevention of segregation. Targeting grants to promoting sports hobbies by employing the regional sports activities grant is one of the measures used to support the vitality of districts, resident satisfaction, positive experiences of safety among children and young people and social cohesion as well as to focus on increasing positive interaction between different population groups in suburban regeneration areas.
Grants to support regional sports activities are discretionary funds granted to activities and development work to increase low-threshold sports hobbies for children and young people aged 9–18. One of the focal areas of the grant was girls with an immigrant background. The grant was targeted at activities and activity development in suburban regeneration areas and districts designated based on need. A total of 200,000 euros of grant money was awarded to a total of 13 sports clubs and other associations providing sports services.