Promoting voluntary activities of young people is important for supporting young people’s democratic commitment and active citizenship. The Swedish National Youth Policy aims at creating platforms where young individuals can actively participate, express their concerns and contribute to decision-making processes. The Policy recognises young people’s independent organisation and volunteering as one of the channels to achieve this objective. The Ordinance on State Grants for Child and Youth Organisations, issued in 2011, aims to encourage youth volunteering by providing grants to non-profit children and youth organisations. Through this support, organisations enhance young people’s participation in societal matters and contribute to the growth of leaders.
Government grants to youth organisations – Sweden
Abstract
The Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society (MUCF) distributes grants to youth organisations annually and submits a report to the government on the use and outcomes of the grants. Grants are available to non-profit organisations for children and youth which have voluntary membership and operate democratically and independently, while respecting the principles of equality and non-discrimination. To qualify for grants, the organisations need to be youth-led, where young people have influence over the activities of the organisation, for instance through board participation. Additionally, the organisation needs to have at least 1 000 members between 6 and 25 years of age. The grant is awarded to a wide range of child and youth organisations including student organisations, organisations representing different ethnic groups, LGBTQ-rights organisations, cultural organisations, climate and environmental organisations, Sobriety organisations, organisations representing national minorities and organisations for young persons with disabilities. Criteria for organisations representing national minorities or young people with disabilities in Sweden vary slightly, requiring at least 200 members between 6 and 25 years of age. Youth organisations receiving organisational grants can use it to cover both activity and administration costs. National umbrella organisations can also decide to distribute it to local member associations.
MUCF submits annual reports to the government on the use of the grants and their impact. The 2023 evaluation highlights that both the use and reported impact of grants align with their intended purposes. Investments in civil society organisations for young people prove effective in building relations, increasing quality of life, and promoting independence. In 2022, 114 youth organisations spanning across most of Sweden’s counties, with totally 656 000 members between 6 and 25 years of age received a government grant. Organisations receiving grants emphasise that the grant allows them to provide platforms and meeting places for young people with shared interests, promote social inclusion, strengthen confidence and enable participation and influence in the organisations. The grant also facilitates organisations in providing leisure activities for children and young people. With the help of the grant, beneficiary organisations can increase young people’s participation and influence in society, by giving them the tools to organise themselves and understand the democratic process. Some organisations also report having used the grants to cultivate future leaders through providing trainings to young people. Empowered by the grant, young individuals actively contribute to setting new goals for the organisation and implement creative projects collaboratively. The organisation’s backing provides them with the means to advocate for and actualise their ideas. The evaluation of the government grants indicate that the initiative contributes to the long-term goal of strengthening the independent organisation and influence of children and young people in society and improving the conditions for civil society as a central part of democracy.
Further reading
Myndigheten för ungdomsoch civilsamhällesfragor (n.d.), Barn-och ungdomsorganisationer; Myndigheten för ungdomsoch civilsamhällesfragor (2023), Organisationsbidragens användning och effekter 2023.
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