The Sports and Wellbeing Committee decided on grants for organisations promoting health, well-being and inclusion

The Sports and Wellbeing Committee decided on the grants in their meeting on 12 March 2026. Organisations in Espoo play an important part in promoting the ease of everyday lives, inclusion, and functional capacity of local residents. The grants are intended for funding activities that prevent exclusion, reduce loneliness and health inequality, and increase peer support and volunteering.

When reviewing the applications, the committee paid particular attention to activities targeted at vulnerable groups, foreign-language speakers, and older people, and prioritised regularly organised activities. In preparation for the grant process, feedback was collected from residents in Espoo through the Voxit platform in February 2026.

In particular, residents highlighted the importance of providing high-quality activities, the transparency and effectiveness of evaluation, and the consideration of groups that are difficult to reach. Strengthening communality and the long-lasting nature of the activities were considered to be more important than individual events. In addition, some of the key criteria highlighted in the answers were prioritising local services and cooperation with partners and other parties.

‘The work of organisations that promote health, well-being and inclusion is great and meaningful. Preventing exclusion and reducing loneliness were considered particularly important objectives. The committee was happy with the proposal, which had been thoroughly prepared,’ says Terhi Valkeapää, Chair of the Sports and Wellbeing Committee.

Organisation grants for promoting wellbeing, health and social inclusion are only given out for activities that are not eligible for other grants from the City of Espoo, such as cultural grants, sports and exercise grants, or youth grants.

The organisation grants for promoting health, wellbeing and social inclusion are mainly intended for registered non-profit associations that meet the general grant principles and are not receiving other grants for the same activities.

Read more about the decision.(external link, opens in a new window)