The purpose of the survey is to assess the current level of responsibility and accessibility of clubs and associations organising sports activities in Helsinki. To this end the survey will collect information on the responsibility and accessibility measures implemented by clubs and associations and on the support that they have received and need and related wishes.
Based on the survey responses, the City will plan and target support measures to promote sustainability and accessibility. The picture of the current situation generated by the survey will support the planning and targeting of these measures. The survey data will help identify the most important support measures.
The survey precedes a grant reform
From 2027 onwards, the City aims to take responsibility and accessibility more strongly into account in sports grants. The survey will take stock of the current situation of clubs before the grant reform so that the impacts of the reform can be monitored from the outset.
The work is based on the following City of Helsinki policies:
- The City of Helsinki vision for sports services 2024–2033 emphasises the responsibility and accessibility of club activities and making it possible for everyone to engage in sports hobbies, regardless of background.
- The Helsinki City Strategy 2025-2029 emphasises the holistic wellbeing of children and young people and safe hobbies. Particular attention is paid to children and young people at risk of being excluded from hobby activities.
The survey is anonymous
The responsibility survey is anonymous. Responses cannot be attributed to an individual club or association and will have no impact on the 2026 grant decisions. The aim of making the survey anonymous is to enable honest feedback and to provide a comprehensive picture of the state of responsibility and accessibility of the sports activities organised by clubs and associations in Helsinki.
The responses can be used to compare groups of sports and areas, for example, but not to make comparisons between clubs or associations.
The survey is mandatory for grant applicants
The responsibility survey is a mandatory part of the 2026 application process for grants to allow the City to gain a comprehensive understanding of grant applicants. The survey supports the development of sustainability work and provides an opportunity to plan measures based on data.
Responses to the survey will be confirmed by a separate confirmation questionnaire, which will open after you complete the survey. This will ensure that every club or association that receives a grant will answer the survey when applying for a grant in 2026.
The survey is based on the sustainability programme
The survey is based on the shared sustainability programme for the sports community entitled ‘Sustainable sports’, which was prepared under the leadership of the Finnish Olympic Committee in collaboration with Finnish sports operators.
The sustainability programme consists of five areas:
- Good Governance
- Safe Space and Safe Environment
- Equality and Equal Opportunity
- Environment and Climate
- Fair Competition.
The questions focus on concrete measures that clubs and associations can take to promote sustainable and achievable action.
Responsibility and accessibility are key priorities for the City
There is still room for improvement in the promotion of equal opportunities in sports hobbies. Research shows that there are differences in the physical activity and participation in physical activity of children and young people between different population groups.
Children and young people with impairments are less likely than their peers to exercise and participate in club activities (LIITU 2024). According to the School Health Promotion study (2025), girls with an immigrant background in Helsinki participate in instructed sports less often than other girls of the same age. International research evidence suggests that children and young people from sexual and gender minorities participate less in physical activity and face more barriers to participation and discrimination than others (Austin et al. 2024).
For some families, the cost of hobbies is a barrier to physical activity and increases the risk of being excluded from hobby activities (Ministry of Education and Culture 2016; Lasten ja nuorten vapaa-aikatutkimus 2018). Bullying and inappropriate behaviour are also reported in sport and hobby activities (Lasten ja nuorten vapaa-aikatutkimus 2018; LIITU 2024).
The City of Helsinki aims to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to participate in responsible and accessible club and sports activities in a safe and healthy environment. The City aims to lower the barriers to sports hobbies and also reach target groups that have been identified as underrepresented in sports activities.
Sources:
Austin, F., Wright, K. E., Jackson, B., Lin, A., Schweizer, K., Furzer., B. J. 2024. A scoping review of trans and gender diverse children and adolescents’ experiences of physical activity, sport, and exercise participation, Mental Health and Physical Activity, Volume 26, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100576(Link leads to external service) .
Finnish Institute for Health And Welfare. School Health Promotion study 2025.
Tiina Hakanen, Sami Myllyniemi & Mikko Salasuo (ed.) 2019. Oikeus Liikkua. Lasten ja nuorten vapaa-aikatutkimus 2018 (‘The right to move. A study of children’s and young people’s leisure activities in 2018’). Publications of the Finnish Youth Research Society 215.
Sami Kokko & Riikka Hämylä (ed.) 2024. Lasten ja nuorten liikuntakäyttäytyminen Suomessa LIITU-tutkimuksen tuloksia 2024 (‘Finnish School-aged Physical Activity (F-SPA, LIITU in Finnish) study’). PUBLICATIONS OF THE NATIONAL SPORTS COUNCIL 2025:1.
Sustainable sports: Sustainability programme for the sports community:
Sustainability: Sustainability programme for the sports community_pdf
Yhdenvertaiset mahdollisuudet harrastaa – painopisteenä harrastamisen hinta (‘Equal opportunities to pursue a hobby - focus on the price of hobbies’). Publications of the Ministry of Education and Culture 2016:19.
News updated on 11 February: Added the last sentence of the lead paragraph.
