Social holiday organizations
Five Finnish NGOs organize social holiday activity to such families and persons who could not otherwise have a holiday outside home.
Any person or family that resides permanently in Finland can apply for holiday support.
Holiday support is granted on application based on economic, health and social grounds. Five-day full-board domestic holiday programs are designed around the needs of different target groups: families with children, pensioners, unemployed individuals, people with disabilities and people suffering from health issues.
Matters affecting the decision to grant a holiday are:
- previous holiday support: applicants can be granted a supported holiday no more than every second year. Those applying for the first time are given priority.
- the applicant’s economic situation: e.g., small income, large amounts of debt, medical expenses or accommodation costs.
- social grounds: unemployment, lay-off, loneliness, family carer role, family problems or a difficult situation in life.
- health reasons: disability, physical or mental illnesses.
Holiday fee is 100-125 euros per adult. In addition, participant needs to arrange travel to and from holiday destination.
Social holiday leads to increased levels of subjective well-being and to increased experience of inclusion. Among children and young people, social holidays reduce exclusion, provide opportunities for learning and support positive behavior changes. Among seniors, social tourism can offer a recreational escape from mundane routines. For people living with disabilities, holiday trips contribute to satisfaction with life across all domains.
Holiday support can be applied through each of the Social holiday organizations listed here (in Finnish).