Support to youth organisations and youth work

State grants to youth organisations
Government grants to the operations of Swedish youth organisations are an important element of Swedish youth policy. Grants represent a concrete way of supporting non-profit involvement on the part of young people. The overall objectives of the grants are to promote the democratic upbringing of children and young people, to promote equality between the sexes and equality between various groups of young people, to provide children and young people with meaningful leisure time, and to involve more young people in the activities of the associations.

Support for young people's leisure activities and organisations
Support is given for the development of young people’s cultural and leisure activities, and to strengthen young people’s organisations at inter-municipal and national levels. In 2010, the Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs is prioritising projects that aim to combat social exclusion of young people; initiatives to prevent alienation; and initiatives that strengthen the development of knowledge about young people´s situations and about youth work.

Support to create networks for youth issues
Non-profit organisations, associations, municipalities and regions may apply for support to create networks. These may bring together different actors with a view to mutual learning and dissemination of knowledge on youth issues. The range of issues that networks may deal with includes: the integration of young people into the labour market; cooperation between associations and municipalities; influence and participation; activities aimed at reaching vulnerable young people; international perspectives; and equality.

Support for development of municipal youth policy
Municipalities, independently or together with local associations and other joint municipal committees such as youth councils, can apply for support for projects in which young people participate. The Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs gives priority to activities which contribute to increased influence and participation for young people in the municipality, which clearly demonstrate genuine participation of young people in the project, and which start out from a knowledge of young people's circumstances.


Only Swedish municipalities, Swedish organisations and Swedish foundations are eligible for financial support from the Swedish National Board for Youth Affairs.