The aim of the grant reform is to target grants more in line with the Helsinki City Strategy 2025–2029 and the Vision for City of Helsinki’s Sports Services 2024–2033, to streamline the application process and the preparation of grant decisions, and to balance the support given to different sports.
The objectives of the reform were presented to the Sports Sub-committee of the Culture and Leisure Committee in autumn 2025.
Background to the reform
The City of Helsinki has not introduced any major reforms to its sports grants since 2016. The City drew up the current grant criteria and principles based on the strategic objectives pursued at the time.
The grant reform is also influenced by various challenges in the current situation. The current model for applying for and processing grants is time-consuming and laborious. The current grant model also does not serve different types of sports equally, as some sports have separate grant categories that differ from the basic operating grants.
The aim for the future is to review the grant priorities and any potential reform needs each time the strategy period changes.
Reform based on the City Strategy and Vision for Sports Services
The new City Strategy places particular emphasis on strengthening the overall wellbeing of children and young people and ensuring that they can engage in safe recreational activities. A particularly important goal is for the City to reach out to those children and young people who would otherwise be excluded from recreational activities. In its City Strategy, the City also commits to promoting the health and wellbeing of its older residents. Services must specifically reach older Helsinki residents who are at risk of marginalisation.
In line with its Vision for Sports Services, the City plans to promote the responsibility and accessibility of club activities and enable more children and young people to participate in recreational activities regardless of their background. The City carries out this work in consultation with sports clubs and other key partners.
Progress of the grant reform
Preparations for the grant reform began in spring 2025 with an assessment of the current situation, which included a survey of associations that had received sports grants. In addition to information on the current situation, the survey collected opinions on the goals that the City should support with sports grants, as well as preferences regarding the timing of grant applications and awards. According to the respondents, the City should provide particular support for sports and low-threshold recreational activities for children and young people under the age of 20.
The grant reform has been discussed by the Sports Sub-committee and the Club Parliament, which represents Helsinki-based sports clubs, among other bodies. The grant reform will be presented to sports clubs and associations on a wider scale at the autumn Club Forum on 4 December 2025.
Preparations for the reform are underway, and the aim is to reach the decision-making stage during spring 2026. If the preparation and decision-making processes proceed as planned, the changes would come into effect in 2027.
As the reform progresses, news and updates regarding sports grants will be posted on the sports grants web pages (link below).
