Icehearts Finland provides consistent, long-term, and comprehensive support for disadvantaged children and young people. It is an evidence-based, highly impactful programme created in Finland in the ‘90s. Icehearts Finland was awarded the European Prize for Social Integration through Sport 2016, in the “Integration of Populations at Risk” category. It has also been recognised as a model of best practice within the European Union Marketplace for Best Practices for non-communicable diseases in 2021.

The following video provides the story of the origins of Icehearts Finland. 

Please note that it has been a while since the video was released. After the release, the story of Icehearts Finland has continued and the activities have developed. The visual below provides a picture of where the programme is now. 

In addition, a comprehensive English-language report on Icehearts’ activities and evaluation of activities can be found here: https://www.julkari.fi/handle/10024/148568.

Resources to go deeper and topic material:

Name of the material	Why it matters / What you will find
Fundamentals and basic elements of Icehearts work in Finland for Manager 🔗	WHY – To better understand the origins of Icehearts and be equipped with advocacy messaging
The story behind the name Icehearts 🔗	WHY – To understand the culture and context that led to the programme being named Icehearts
Versatile work of an Icehearts mentor 🔗	WHAT – The latest video from Icehearts Finland on work of a mentor
Benefits and underlying mechanisms of organized sport participation on mental health among socially vulnerable boys 🔗	WHAT –  A qualitative study on parents’ perspective in the sport-based Icehearts programme.
Changes in behavioural and emotional well-being of children participating in the Icehearts programme 🔗	WHAT – A feasibility pilot study with 4-year follow-up