Fritidskortet Launched to Support Children's Activities in Sweden

The Swedish government has officially launched the Fritidskortet initiative, aimed at financially supporting children aged 8 to 16 in participating in organized physical activities. Parents can now receive 500 SEK per child per year to cover costs for various activities, with this amount increasing to 2000 SEK for families already receiving housing benefits. The initiative is designed to promote involvement in leader-led activities, which must take place at least six times over six months to qualify for funding.

All funds must be utilized by November 30 of the same year, as the amount is not transferable to the following year. The registration process includes enrolling the child with an authorized organization and applying for the funds digitally.

Despite its intentions, the program has faced criticism over its significant administrative costs, projected at 250 million SEK annually. Critics, including Lawen Redar of the Social Democrats, argue that these expenses may inadvertently increase participation fees for children and suggest that resources might be more effectively used to lower costs in cultural schools and similar activities. Social Minister Jakob Forssmed acknowledges the concern about high initial administrative costs but insists on the necessity of establishing a secure and efficient operational framework for the initiative. Meanwhile, some confusion has arisen over the program's branding, which suggests a physical card despite its digital service model for applications and reimbursements.