Topic
Promising practice — long-term (12-year) relational mentoring, sport-based engagement, equity focus on children at risk of social exclusion, cross-sectoral, cost-effective.
Tools & Frameworks
Good practice
Use it to…
Use it to help identify, adapt, and apply effective solutions for long-term, relationship-based support that reaches children at risk of social exclusion.
Where to look in this resource
The whole page is relevant - it summarises the main characteristics of the practice.
Description
Founded in Finland in 1996, Icehearts forms teams of around 20 children identified early (around age 6) by pre-school, school and social services as needing special support. A full-time mentor stays with the same team for 12 years, until around age 18, using team sport as the entry point while supporting children at school, during leisure time, individually and through their families, in collaboration with other services. It is rooted in a salutogenic, rights-based approach, and is being piloted in other European countries through the Icehearts Europe project.
Brief description
12-year, sport-based mentoring programme for children at risk of social exclusion (Finland).
Country
Finland (origin); pilots in Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Slovenia, Spain
Keywords
mentoring, team sport, long-term support, social exclusion, family support, Targeted prevention, Promotion, cost-effectiveness
