The Sports Sub-Committee of the City of Helsinki’s Culture and Leisure Committee made a decision on the allocation of the 2025 grant funding for civic activities in sports at its meeting on Thursday, 23 January 2025. A maximum of EUR 2.15 million will be awarded in operating grants and grants for other associations promoting physical activity, and EUR 5.591 million was allocated to grants for the use of sports facilities. In addition, EUR 950,000 was earmarked for clearing grants to provide clubs with ice rink shifts.
Targeted grants will promote responsible club activities by supporting the development of safer club activities. At its meeting, the Sports Sub-Committee also decided on the criteria for awarding grants aimed at preventing segregation through supporting regional hobbies. These grants aim to support low-threshold recreational activities for 9- to 18-year-olds in areas where children’s and young people’s participation in hobbies is lower than the city average. For example, these grants are awarded for activities organised in urban renewal areas.
The purpose of financial support is to increase the range of easily accessible, open-to-all and affordable hobbies in the target areas, offering recreational opportunities that do not require special sports skills or expensive equipment. The aim of the grants is to increase children’s and young people’s physical activity and positive interaction between population groups, prevent social exclusion, and enhance inclusion and a sense of community. An important focus of the grants is to encourage girls with an immigrant background to engage in activities.
In 2025, up to EUR 150,000 will be awarded in targeted grants, and up to EUR 200,000 will be used to support regional hobbies. Both grants are discretionary.
Other forms of support include orienteering map grants, start-up grants and event grants. The grant funding for 2025 was increased by EUR 350,000 compared to the previous year. The purpose of sports grants is to promote civic activities in sports and increase physical activity among Helsinki residents.
Grant application periods
- Operating grants (for sports clubs): from 10 January to 15 February 2025
- Facility usage grants (for sports clubs): from 10 January to 15 February 2025
- Grants for other associations that promote physical activities: from 10 January to 15 February 2025
- Orienteering map grants: from 10 January to 15 February 2025
- Start-up grants: from 1 January to 7 December 2025
- Grants to promote sports and physical activity for the elderly: from 13 January to 7 February 2025 at 16
- Targeted grants: from 11 March to 4 April 2025
- Grants for supporting regional hobbies: from 11 March to 4 April 2025 at 16
- Event grants: from 9 December 2024 to 7 December 2025
