Financial Support Options for Children’s and Young People’s Hobbies

Many organisations support low-income families to enable children and young people to participate in hobbies. Espoon Tapiot provides help in applying for financial support if needed. If you need more information or help with the application process, please feel free to contact Anni Halko (anni.halko@sul.fi, 0504783681). Your information is confidential.

Below is a list of some organisations that offer financial support for hobbies. For club brand clothing and spikes, remember also the active Facebook group “Espoon Tapioiden tori” or ask more on your coach.

Supplementary social assistance

Supplementary social assistance can be applied for expenses not covered by basic social assistance. It may be granted for a child’s hobby expenses. The allowance can be granted to a recipient of Kela’s basic social assistance or despite a negative decision from Kela. The applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.
More information is available on Supplementary and preventive social assistance | Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County

Espoo Lutheran Church and foundations

If supplementary social assistance is not granted or is not sufficient to cover hobby expenses, additional support can be applied for from the parish. Applying for or receiving the grant is not subject to Finnish citizenship or membership of any religion. The parish can award the grant according to its own practices from its own funds or apply for it from the Tukikummit and Sipilä foundations together with the applicant. The foundations’ support aims to prevent the social exclusion of children and young people aged 5–25. The allowance can be granted to one child or family. The application period is ongoing continuously. Contact the diaconal worker of the parish in your area.

More info on Social support and diaconal services – Espoo Lutheran Church

Save the Children Finland: Eväitä Elämälle programme

Grants hobby support on a case basis to persons under the age of 18 whose continuation or starting of a hobby is threatened due to the family’s tight financial situation. The support is granted on a need-based basis against an invoice or receipt for one year at a time. Support can be received for guided and regular hobbies, such as season fees, equipments, reasonable additional costs such as camp fees and other necessary expenses related to starting or continuing the hobby. The grant is usually awarded by the Espoo local association at the beginning of the year.

Apply the support here Eväitä Elämälle Program – Save the Children Fin

SOS Children’s Villages: Unelmista totta -hobby support programme

We are one of the partners in the Unelmista totta (Dreams come true) service. Hobby support is a form of support for guided and regular hobbies for 7–17-year-olds who do not yet have a meaningful hobby of their own. The support can be used to cover the participation fees of a guided weekly hobby against an invoice. The allowance period is 12 months from the granting of the allowance and the application period is continuous. The support is primarily granted for applications made together with your own help worker.

More information here Unelmista totta

Hope ry: Hobby support

The support can be used to cover part of the costs of the hobby (season fees, equipment and other expenses), enabling the child to continue or start the hobby. The allowance is intended for 6–17-year-olds who are covered by social security for regular hobbies. The support can be applied for continuously, it is granted for one year at a time and is paid directly to the organiser of the hobby against an invoice.

Apply the support here (in Finnish) Harrastustuen hakeminen – Hope – Yhdessä & Yhteisesti ry

Minela Foundation: grants and subsidies

Grants are awarded for young people’s sports and cultural hobbies as well as activities that support creativity, competence and inclusion. The purpose of the Foundation is to promote and support measures aimed at the economic, cultural and social development of young people. Clubs and associations can apply for grants, and the Foundation can also use grants to assist individual young people aged 10–20 who are in a challenging financial situation. The grant is a one-time grant and a maximum of 900 euros. The application period is annually in March and applications are processed in June.

More information here Minela Säätiö

Tukilinja Foundation: grant

The grants are intended for people who have a long-term physical or mental disability that makes it difficult to function in everyday life. The limitation can be a physical or sensory disability, a long-term illness, a mental health problem or a neurological abnormality. The grants are targeted at low-income private individuals permanently residing in Finland based on a long-term functional limitation diagnosed by a doctor. For a competitive sports grant an expert report from your coach is required as an attachment.

Read more and ask help from your coach if needed Tukilinja briefly in english

Valio Academy: monetary, nutrition and product stipends

Valio Academy supports sports hobby and developing nutrition. The monetary stipend is intended directly for causes that promote the exercise and sports hobbies of children and young people under the age of 18, such as camp and training fees, travel expenses, facility rentals and equipment. The nutrition stipend is targeted at nutrition coaching and the product stipend includes training snacks worth 250 euros.

Priority will be given to applicants who have not previously received a stipend granted by Valio. Support received from elsewhere is not an obstacle to receiving a stipend. The monetary value of the stipend is assessed on a case-by-case basis and on the intended use, and it may differ in value from the application. The application period is once a year.

Read more about Valio Academy Apply for a stipend – Valio

Kojamo: Lumo sponsorship and grants

The Lumo sponsorship and grant programme supports top Finnish athletes as well as individual and team sports for young people. The programme promotes wellbeing through physical activity by awarding grants and sponsorship to promising young athletes. Grants are awarded to 12- to 20-year-old athletes who show commitment to training and a passion for success to encourage them in their sporting careers. Lumo residents are given priority in the selection. The next application period will be in autumn 2025.

More information Lumo sponsorship and grants | Kojamo – Better urban housing