Is your child entitled to a special sports and leisure grant?

Information in English (easy to translate to more languages) 

Applications are now open for a special sports and leisure grant for children living in lower-income households. The project aims to level the playing field for lower-income families to participate in organised sports and leisure activities.  Please note that the application deadline is 1 March 2021. You can very easily check your eligibility for a grant on Island.is. 

Check your eligibility for a grant on Island.is 

If a right exists, all information about the process and its implementation can be found here. 

A grant in addition to traditional sports and leisure grants

In November 2020, applications opened for special sports and leisure grants for children living in lower-income households, which is in addition to the standard sports and leisure grants from local authorities. In total, around 900 million krónur will be allocated to the project in 2020 and 2021, but Ásmundur Einar Daðason, Minister for Social Affairs and Children, introduced the measure this spring. It is part of a package of measures intended to offset the impact that the Covid-19 pandemic has had on the finances of lower-income households in the country.

The grant is 45,000 for each child.

A grant can be applied for for children born between 2005 and 2014 who live in a household where the total household income was on average less than 740,000 kr per month between March and July 2020. The grant is 45,000 kr. per child, and around 13,000 children are eligible. The grant can be used to subsidise participation fees for sports, music lessons or other leisure activities. Local authorities set the rules for the allocation of the grants, but the arrangements can vary between them, for example regarding which sports and leisure activities are eligible, what documents must be submitted with the application, and the processing time for applications. The municipalities handle the processing of grant applications after the eligibility for the grant has been checked on Island.is.

Participation in sports and leisure activities is important for all children. 

Research has shown that it is important to keep as many children as possible active in sports and leisure activities, and to ensure equal access for children and young people to such activities. Emphasis has been placed on reaching as many guardians as possible. 

Further information on procedures and arrangements at the City of Hafnarfjörður 

Hafnarfjörður's Leisure Grants

We would also like to remind you of the City of Hafnarfjörður's leisure support grant for all children and young people aged 6-18 who are actively involved in sports and leisure activities. The monthly grant to reduce participation fees is 4,500 kr. per participant. 

Further information about the City of Hafnarfjörður's leisure grants