Training course "Dive into youth participation in Sports sector"

Youth participation and young people’s active engagement in society are key priorities of the European Youth Programmes. Sport organisations and clubs can play an important role in supporting young people to take part in society and community life. For many young sporters, their sport clubs are like a second home where they develop their personalities and have their social relations. 

The Erasmus+ Youth Programme offers sports clubs low-threshold opportunities to develop their own projects that empower young people through sport and strengthen their civic and social competences.

This special edition of the training course “Dive into Youth Participation” is the first edition specifically designed for the sport sector. It brings together 25 representatives of sport organisations such as coaches, sports instructors and leaders from across Europe. The course aims to strengthen their understanding of youth engagement and youth participation and to explore how it can be integrated into sports activities and club life. Participants will also learn more about the funding opportunities within Erasmus+Youth, especially  Key Action 154 – Youth Participation Activities.

The activity will take place in Vierumäki, Finland, between 14-17 September 2026 (arrival 14 September, departure 17 September).

The call is open for sport sector representatives who fit the following criteria:

• representatives of sports organisations (volunteers or professionals, e.g. coaches, leadership/management staff) who are interested in involving young members of their club more into the club.
• have youth departments in their clubs or organisations where you want to involve their youngsters more into the club to create a sense of ownership and an active community among the young members. 
• are interested in exploring the topics of participation, and civic engagement and want to increase the social responsibility of their sport organisations for the benefit of their local society.
• who want to change approaches – involving young people more  but also learning how to do it better - The training will equip the participants with inspirational and easy implementable methods of youth participation
• are capable of communicating effectively in English
• are at least 18 years old and actively and regularly involved in a role in the sports club (this can be a volunteer or a paid role). 

The two-day programme of activities will consist of:

• Thematic inputs and practical activities on the topic of youth engagement and participation in the sport sector - how to involve youth more and create a sense of ownership 
• Thematic sessions exploring the possibilities within the Erasmus+ Youth Key Action 154 “Youth Participation Activities” and fostering exchange between the representatives of sport organisations from several European countries. It is a great chance to learn from each other how to foster youth participation. 
• Practitioner inputs related to youth participation projects in the sport sector.
• Opportunities to learn about youth engagement and  participation at different levels and in different contexts, and how to improve the role of the young people in your own sport organisation..
• Spaces to share practices among participants
• Spaces to network, build international partnerships and new cooperations

Before the residential activity in Finland, the participants will have a chance to connect and learn about each other during a first online meeting (mandatory for all selected participants) - planned for 1 September between 17-18:30 CET.

Selection procedure (important for both applicants and selecting NAs/SALTO RCs)

• Participants will be primarily assessed on their potential to use the knowledge acquired through the training course, in the long term, in the activity of their organisation or informal group.
• After the selection, participation in the training will be fully guaranteed after participants provide proof of arranging their travel plans (eg. train/plane ticket)
• Other NAs/SALTOs, not part of NPiY Strategic Partnership, are welcome to support participants based on the quality criteria mentioned above, on the condition they can cover travel expenses for participants.

The Training Course “Dive into Youth Participation” is part of the Strategic Partnership New Power in Youth, between several Erasmus+ National Agencies in the field of youth and SALTO Resource Centres. The event will be hosted by Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI)