Municipalities invited to participate in pilot project of the Finnish model – nearly EUR 10 million available for children's and young people's leisure activities

The Finnish model for leisure activities will bring children’s and young people’s leisure activities to the school day from the beginning of next year. The Ministry of Education and Culture will carry out a pilot and is looking for municipalities interested in taking part in the pilot. The application period closes on 2 December. The amount of funding reserved for the pilot is EUR 9.5 million. Schools will be expected to select the leisure activities based on their pupils’ and students’ wishes. Municipalities can map out children’s and young people’s wishes using the Ministry's survey for pupils and students or hear children and young people in other ways. The survey will be sent to schools this week.

The Finnish model aim to enable every child and young person to have a leisure activity in connection with the school day that they enjoy and one that is free of charge. The pilot is seeking municipalities that are prepared to set their leisure activities in motion in early 2021. The second application round will take place next spring and involves activities starting in the autumn.

The Finnish model focuses on hearing children about their wishes for leisure activities. Municipalities decide how they want to provide the activities based on children's and young people's wishes. The activities take place in the schools and in places near the schools. They may be organised by sports clubs, arts and cultural actors, youth organisations, municipal actors and other communities involved in children's and young people's leisure activities.

“Leisure activities have many positive effects on the wellbeing of children and young people. A meaningful leisure activity allows them to experience joy and success and helps them find friends. The positive effects that leisure activities bring carry through into adulthood. The Finnish model for leisure activities is designed to make sure that every child and young person has access to leisure activities no matter what their family background is and where they live,” says Minister of Science and Culture Annika Saarikko.

The survey for pupils and students carried out by the Ministry of Education and Culture is now being conducted for the fourth time, and this year there are a record 62 different leisure activities from which children and young people can choose. The national results of the survey will be published on 17 December.

The Finnish model also includes a national leisure activities week in schools. This year, the week will take place from 2 November to 6 November, when school children will be able to try out leisure activities and, in particular, learn about various kinds of digital and remote leisure activities.

The new leisure activities week website has been opened at harrastusviikko.fi (in Finnish). The website gives information on different leisure activities and offers communications materials for the leisure activities week. The ideas on the website make it possible to organise trials in leisure activities in schools throughout the school year.

The Finnish model and the survey for pupils (in Finnish)

Harrastusviikko.fi (in Finnish)

Inquiries

Tiina Kivisaari, Director, tel. +358 295 330 178
Henni Axelin, Director, tel. +358 295 330 205
Iina Berden, Ministerial Adviser, tel. +358 295 330 069