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Hobby Support for Children and Youth

Democracy & Inclusion Well-being & Communality Culture Youth services Sports & outdoor activities Residents Families with children Young people

Hobbies bring joy, new skills, and a sense of community to children's and young people's lives. However, not all families have the financial means to support their children's hobbies. The Hobby Support for children and youth helps reduce this inequality and ensures that children from low-income families also have the opportunity to discover their passion through guided recreational activities.

Lapsia ja nuoria harrastamassa muun muassa luistelua, jalkapalloa ja kitaransoittoa.

What is hobby support?

The hobby support for children and youth is intended to cover the costs of paid, guided hobbies for 7–17-year-old children and young people from low-income families in Vantaa. The goal of the support is to ensure that all children and young people have equal opportunities to participate in recreational activities, regardless of their family's financial situation.

Who can apply for hobby support?

  • The applicant must be a child or young person aged 7–17.
    • A child turning 7 during the calendar year belongs to the youngest eligible age group.
    • A 17-year-old at the time of application belongs to the oldest eligible age group.
  • The applicant's official place of residence must be Vantaa.
  • Hobby support can be granted for one guided hobby.
  • The support is discretionary and partial.
  • It is available for children whose family income is below the low-income threshold defined by Statistics Finland.
  • The application can be filled out by the child's guardian or a worker assisting the family.

How to apply for hobby support?

Applying for hobby support is easy and can be done through the Unelmista.fi digital platform, maintained by SOS-Lapsikylä.

  • The application can be filled out by the child's guardian or a worker assisting the family.
  • The application must include the family's total income and any other required additional information.
  • Applications are reviewed individually, and support is granted based on financial need.

Where can the support be used for?

Hobby support covers the participation costs of structured and guided recreational activities and is always discretionary and may be partial. The amount of support is assessed based on the cost level of the hobby.

However, the support cannot be used for:

  • Competition or camp costs, such as participation fees or accommodation expenses
  • Hobby equipment or clothing, including sports gear, musical instruments, or hobby-specific attire
  • Travel expenses for competitions or tournaments, such as transportation, meals, or lodging
  • Separate insurance costs, such as license insurance or personal hobby insurance
  • Additional coaching or extra training, such as private lessons or extra sessions with a coach
  • The support is specifically intended to ensure access to regular, structured hobbies rather than covering extra or competitive expenses.

Criteria for granting hobby support

Hobby Support is granted on a discretionary basis, considering the following factors:

  • Family income level – The family's total income must be below the low-income threshold.
  • Family size – The number of children in the household is taken into account.
  • Single parenthood – Support may be prioritized for single-parent families.
  • The number of hobbies the child or young person already has – Preference may be given to those with fewer hobby opportunities.
  • Annual cost of the hobby – The total expenses of the chosen activity are considered.
  • Need for support and other hobby-related subsidies – The decision takes into account whether the applicant receives other financial assistance for hobbies.
  • Sudden or unforeseen family crisis – Exceptional circumstances affecting the family’s financial situation may influence the decision.

Each application is reviewed individually, and support is granted based on financial need and available funding.

Apply for hobby support

Go to Unelmista.fi to apply for hobby support

More information

Sanna Lesonen

Lifelong Learning Services
Lead Specialist
040 559 8538 sanna.lesonen@vantaa.fi

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