Tampere boosts hobby grants with SOS Children’s Villages to help disadvantaged young people
Tampere will increase funding for a hobby support programme to expand leisure grants for children and young people facing difficult circumstances in the next contract period.
The decision continues a partnership with SOS Children’s Villages Finland that began in 2021. Between 2021 and 2025, Tampere children received 990 grants totaling more than €390,000. In 2025 alone, funding helped 263 local young people start or continue chosen activities.
The programme channels money to dozens of organisers and a wide range of hobby types. In Tampere, the most supported activities in 2025 were football, gymnastics, horse riding, basketball and martial arts. The work is carried out in close cooperation with school welfare officers and other professionals to reach low-income families.
Nationwide, SOS Children’s Villages paid out over €1.2 million to 3,702 children in 2025. Applications rose 23 percent, and loneliness was among the top five reasons families applied. Surveys show reduced loneliness and higher self-esteem among many participants. Programme managers say the expanded city funding aims to remove barriers to inclusion and give more children a sense of belonging. The increased funding continues the city's recent inclusion efforts, following the Kaikkien Tampere inclusion programme and earlier city grants for sports and youth associations.
Earlier coverage
Catch the full story over at City of Tampere
