The Equal opportunities in clubs -project, funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture, will develop an operating model to support the equal participation of children with special needs in club activities. The goal is for all children to have the opportunity to engage in the physical activity they want with their peers, regardless of the child's functional capacity.
The operating model to be developed is based on cooperation between the municipality of Heinola, clubs and Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Sport instructor students completing the applied sports course participate as assistant instructors in groups with children in need of special support or go to a club together with a child. At the same time, the coaches' competence in meeting and instructing children in need of special support will be strengthened, This strengthens the clubs' ability to engage with different kinds of children.
The project is implemented by Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and the City of Heinola's Sports Services.
Duration: 5/2025–12/2026
Project manager: Milla Reponen
Implementers: Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences and the City of Heinola
Funding: Ministry of Education and Culture
