Youth Council Activity Grant for Young People

The purpose of the grants is to support and create opportunities for local youth to engage in independent (self-planned and executed) activities. Grants are awarded for activities that promote and support young people’s independence, active citizenship, social empowerment, and the improvement of their growth and living conditions.

Groups of at least two young people aged 13 to 29 who live or study in Vaasa are eligible to apply for the grant.

Each year, the Youth Council allocates €2,000 in activation funding for youth-led projects and events. Grant applications are reviewed at a Youth Council meeting, and decisions are confirmed by a Youth Services official. Funding is awarded based on set evaluation criteria and grants can only be applied for once per year.

The aim of the grant is to encourage young people to carry out practical projects that as many of their peers as possible can take part in, such as events, theme days and similar activities. The grant can also be used to support small group recreational activities or to provide partial funding for larger projects. The project must be planned and carried out by young people and evaluated using the designated reporting form.

The group applying for project funding must appoint a contact person from among the young participants, as well as an adult responsible for oversight. The contact person must be one of the young people in the group, while the responsible person is an adult member of the group – for example, a teacher, school supervisor, youth centre leader, guardian or other adult. The responsible person, in collaboration with the young contact person, completes the grant application form and is accountable for the use of the grant funds, as well as for reporting, in cooperation with the group. The grant must be used solely for the project it was awarded for, and the activity funded by the grant must be drug and alcohol free.

Grants are not awarded for the following:

• Purchase of machinery, equipment, and furniture
• Salaries: however, payments to external service providers (e.g., performers, lecturers, etc.) are allowed
• Activities intended to generate profit
• Fundraising
• The regular operations of the applying organisation, established ongoing activities, or retroactive funding for activities or projects that have already been completed before applying for the grant.

The granted amounts are maximum amounts. If the full sum is not used, the grant will be paid based on actual expenditure, or it may be reclaimed in full or in part. The grant recipient must notify Youth Services immediately if any funds remain unused. In such cases, the unused portion of the grant may be reallocated to another activity.

The grant must be used solely for the purpose for which it was awarded. If it is used for other purposes, it may be reclaimed in full or in part. A report on the use of the grant must be submitted to Youth Services by the end of the year.

Please note that you cannot apply for the grant if you have already received another grant from the city for the same purpose.

The grant will be paid into the account of the responsible person.

The grant will be paid into the applicant’s specified bank account once the official decision has been finalised and the grant recipient has submitted all required documents to the grant issuer. Before payment, a check will be made to determine if the city has any outstanding receivables from the grant recipient, which will be deducted from the grant.

After the project has concluded, a final report must be submitted by completing the reporting form and sending it as an email attachment to ari.kupari@vaasa.fi. The report must be completed and submitted by 30 June 2026.

Final Reporting Form