This report is the seventh and final publication to emerge from the Nordic Welfare Centre’s project Nordic co-operation on children's and young people's opportunities for participation and development after the COVID-19 pandemic (2021–2025). The project commissioned by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the Nordic Committee for Children and Young People (NORDBUK) aims to strengthen Nordic co-operation by promoting equal opportunities, democratic participation, and the rights of children and young people across the region.
The pandemic disrupted many aspects of young people’s lives, including their access to leisure activities. Leisure is not only enjoyable — it is a vital arena for social connection, personal development, and mental well-being. Crucially, leisure also contributes to young people's resilience by offering stability, a sense of belonging, and opportunities for growth during challenging times. This report explores how leisure activities were impacted during the pandemic, and how the youth and leisure sector adapted in response to it. It underscores the importance of leisure — especially during periods of uncertainty — and provides guidance for strengthening preparedness in future crises.
This publication is part of a broader series expamining the effects of the pandemic on children and young people in the Nordic region:
Together, these reports provide a comprehensive overview of the impact of the pandemic on children and young people in the Nordic region, and how their rights to participation can be strengthened in both everyday life and in times of crisis. This seventh report focuses specifically on leisure as a key arena for inclusion, development, belonging—and resilience.
The knowledge presented in these reports has been gathered in close collaboration with leading national experts on child and youth participation, including children’s ombudspersons, researchers, practitioners in the field, and children and young people themselves. We are especially grateful to all youth organisations across the Nordic and Baltic regions who have contributed actively throughout the project period.
The entire Nordic co-operation project, of which this report forms a part, is underpinned by a child rights-based approach, which is grounded in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. While this publication focuses specifically on Article 31 — the right to leisure, play and cultural life — it also considers Article 12 — the right of children and young people to be heard — as one of the Convention's four general principles. Strengthening these rights is crucial for safeguarding our democracies and fostering inclusive, resilient societies.
We envisage a Nordic region where children and young people are inspired and empowered to participate in their communities, schools, and leisure activities, and where those in positions of authority recognise the importance of a youth perspective in decisions that affect young people's lives.
Through this report, we aim to inspire policymakers, practitioners, and civil society actors—across the Nordic region and within each country — to recognise and strengthen leisure as a protective, inclusive, and empowering space for young people. Our ambition is that the insights and recommendations presented here will contribute to the development of more resilient leisure structures that support young people’s well-being, participation, and development — not only in times of crisis, but as a vital part of everyday life throughout the Nordic countries.
Eva Franzén, Director
Merethe Løberg, Senior Advisor