ISLAND: Reykjavík: How to support children's leisure time and create a healthier, safer city

The project to support leisure activities for children in Reykjavík shows how targeted support for leisure activities can positively affect the health, social cohesion and integration of children and youth. A key element is the introduction of the "Leisure Card", which provides financial support for sports and leisure activities for children aged 6-18 with permanent residence in Reykjavík. The annual subsidy of 75,000 ISK allows families easier access to organized activities, which contributes not only to better physical and mental health of children, but also to the prevention of social exclusion. Thanks to this measure, it was possible to significantly reduce alcohol consumption among young people and support their active involvement in society. Reykjavík thus creates an inspiring model that can serve as a model for other cities and municipalities.

Basic information

Name of the city/town/region:	ISLAND / Iceland
Surname, firstname:	Harpa Thorsteinsdottir
Organization:	Reykjavík city
E-mail:	harpa.thorsteinsdottir@reykjavik.is
Subject:	Kvalita a prostupnost vzdělávání; inovativní aktivity škol; poradenství pro rodiče Sport, pohybové aktivity a místní rekreace Kultura, společenský život, volnočasové aktivity, dobrovolnictví
Mládež

Description and outputs
Čeho se podařilo v rámci Vašich aktivit/projektů dosáhnout?	Children and young people who participate in organized sports and leisure activities have been shown to be less likely to engage in risky behaviour, including alcohol and drug use. Thanks to the joint efforts of the city of Reykjavík, the sports movement, the school community and other stakeholders, huge successes have been achieved in reducing risky behavior among children and youth. The city gradually develops projects to support those groups of society that especially need it, therefore this project was launched in a district where the percentage of children engaged in sports in their free time was lower than in other districts.
Were the implemented activities documented?	We can read about the project in the document dedicated to the preventive program in Iceland, see the attachment.
Start of activity:	01.01.2020
Attachment	příloha realizace
Budget
What were the financial costs of carrying out the activity?	[tis. Kč] 13 000 CZK for a card
How was the activity funded?	The project uses a leisure card system that provides a subsidy of ISK 75,000 per year for each child aged 6-18 years old and a permanent resident of Reykjavík. This amount covers part of the costs of participating in sports and leisure activities. Additional funding is provided by the City of Reykjavík.
Recommendations and inspiration
What recommendations / advice can be deduced from the implementation of your activities and provided to other municipalities with a similar intention?	Recommendations for other municipalities • Building relationships and trust: Personal communication with parents and children through leisure ambassadors increases engagement and motivation. • Close collaboration with schools and coaches: Helps children integrate into communities. • Targeted prevention: Supporting leisure activities has a direct effect on reducing risky behavior among young people.
Attachment	příloha doporučení
Risk, obstacles and positive moments in the implementation process
During the implementation of the activities / project, did you encounter an event that fundamentally affected the implementation?	Several key moments occurred during the implementation of the project: • Group of Cultural Ambassadors: Parents and residents from 16 different linguistic and cultural groups formed a volunteer group that enabled direct communication with thousands of parents in their mother tongue. This move fundamentally improved inclusion. • Support of the city leadership: The support of the mayor of Reykjavík and the city council, which supported this initiative, was essential.
Monitoring and evaluation
Has the impact of the implemented activity / project been measured and evaluated in any way?	The project was evaluated based on the use of the leisure card. The latest results show an increase in its use by 7% between 2021 and 2022, which directly corresponds to greater participation in sports and leisure activities.
Attachment	příloha monitorování a evaluace ()
Do you plan to further develop/maintain the activity/project?	Going forward, the project is planned to be financed through a combination of city budget resources, grants and partnerships with the private sector. The City of Reykjavík intends to continue to support leisure activities as part of its investments in public health and social cohesion, planning a long-term budget for this area. In addition, it focuses on ensuring sustainability through sponsorship from local companies and grant programs that will enable flexible and long-term financing of diverse activities. These steps will ensure that activities continue to be accessible to all children regardless of their financial situation.
Partakers
Name:	město Reykjavík, Island
Company number or other registration data:	530269–7609
Address:	Tjarnargata 11, 101 Reykjavik
Another partakers
Název:	Základní školy a střediska volného času (5) Místní sportovní kluby (3)
Name:	Kulturní ambasadoři a sdružení rodičů (16)