Good Practice from Finland

Liikkukaa! – Sports For All is a national umbrella organization with 80 member organizations in different parts of Finland directly involving about 15 000 people. Liikkukaa! – Sports For All aim is to promote social cohesion, mental and physical health and respect for diversity through sports and leisure activities.

The member organisations are migrant sports initiatives and traditional sports clubs focused on the inclusion of immigrants as well as socially or culturally oriented organizations. The European Commission assumes that approximately ten million people act as volunteers in more than 700,000 sports clubs. The Eurobarometer “Sport and Physical Activity” shows major differences between the different member countries: A comparatively large proportion of respondents from Finland (18%), Austria (15%) and Ireland (14%) state that they serve as volunteers to support sporting activities, whereas respondents from Portugal (2%) and Italy (3%) rarely do so (European Commission 2010, 64ff.). Those volunteers need and deserve resources. Liikkukaa - Sports For All is aiming to provide information, training and network to them.

The organisation was founded 2001. Since then Liikkukaa – Sports For All has organized significant sport and culture events and actively participated in seminars and workshops both as organizer and expert. Liikkukaa´s network consist of both national and international partners. Besides increasing membership and developing services, Liikkukaa´s intention is to extend the national and international network and further deepen cooperation with them.

Liikkukaa has wide experience in the challenges and benefits presented by immigration and diversity. Through network of members and partners the orgainsation maintains a strong connection to the grassroot work in Finland.

Liikkukaa! – Sports For all has participated in seven different Erasmus+ Sports projects as partner since 2009 and in different Youth in Action activities. The organisation has run several national projects for the ministry of education and the ministry of the economics and employment in Finland. Liikkukaa – Sports For All is also a member of the Finnish Olympic Committee.

Member organizations of Liikkukaa! – Sports For all mirror the diversity of the field, ranging from circus to traditional sports clubs. Liikkukaa! – Sports For All members provide activities for families recently located to Finland. Including people in challenged, disadvantaged and vulnerable position.

The member organisations are migrant sports initiatives and traditional sports clubs focused on the inclusion of immigrants as well as socially or culturally oriented organizations.