{"id":38023,"date":"2026-02-04T11:52:08","date_gmt":"2026-02-04T10:52:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/artiklar\/the-right-to-meaningful-leisure\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T10:24:46","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T09:24:46","slug":"ratten-till-en-meningsfull-fritid","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/artiklar\/ratten-till-en-meningsfull-fritid\/","title":{"rendered":"The right to meaningful leisure"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748.jpg\" alt=\"A woman sitting at a desktop.\" class=\"wp-image-37253\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2748-1000x667.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kadiaku Kamala is a participant.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<p class=\"lead-text\">All children have a right to meaningful and active leisure time. The Municipality of Uppsala used this as a starting point when, with support from the European Social Fund, it launched the Uppsala Model for Community Activity Centres (Uppsalamodellen f\u00f6r Community Activity Centre) project in the socio-economically disadvantaged district of Gottsunda in Uppsala. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Gottsunda Community Activity Centre is based on a model which involves using school premises after school hours to offer free activities for local residents. By offering free and readily accessible activities, the community activity centre can help strengthen democracy, create opportunities for people to meet and contribute to greater integration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe aim of the project is to lower the thresholds for participation so that together, we can create meaningful leisure time for more children and young people in Gottsunda,\u201d says Linnea Petersson, project manager at the Municipality of Uppsala.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The activities are aimed at all residents and also invite collaboration with local stakeholders such as sports clubs. Children and young people are a priority target group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe support from the European Social Fund means a lot to us. It means we can work to make a difference for everyone living in Gottsunda,\u201d says Linnea Petersson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Watch the video about the project (choose english subtitles)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"background:none repeat scroll 0 0 #ccc;margin:0 auto;width:100%;\"><div style=\"position:relative;\"><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display:block;height:auto;width:100%\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/im16.inviewer.se\/skiss\/66\/66PE8AK2LB.jpg\"\/><iframe title=\"Gottsunda_l\u00e5ngversion_FINAL\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0;\" src=\"\/\/play.mediaflow.com\/ovp\/16\/66PE8AK2LB?theme=\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A hive of activity<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As the school day drew to a close at the school in Gottsunda, most of the students would quickly leave the area and head home. But that\u2019s no longer the case. A number of different activities aimed at local children and adults now take place on the school premises in the evening.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOne of the successes of this project, I think, is that we\u2019ve been able to offer different kinds of activities. We have more structured activities such as basketball and boxing that lead to development and learning; but we also see the value in offering more spontaneous activities that involve creating a space for social connection and relaxation \u2013 and for sparking curiosity,\u201d says Linnea Petersson.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865.jpg\" alt=\"A woman sitting at a desktop with another woman.\" class=\"wp-image-37236\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2865-1000x667.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Linn\u00e9a Petersson, right, project manager for the Gottsunda Community Activity Centre.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea behind the community activity centre is to provide a seamless transition between school and leisure, which helps make it easy for children and young people to take part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another important underlying principle is empowerment \u2013 the children themselves helping to shape the range of activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Empowerment a key element<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>One activity that\u2019s been very much in demand, and that\u2019s proven to be one of the more popular things to do, is Food &amp; Baking. A group of young people meet up once a week to learn how to bake and cook in the school\u2019s home economics room. The children are asked what they want to cook at the start of each term, and then a schedule is drawn up for the term.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe alternate between baking and cooking, and we\u2019ve made everything from biscuits to tacos,\u201d says Iman Bayyari, activity leader for Food &amp; Baking.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"block-image\">\n          <div class=\"block-image-background is-large\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-3019.jpg)\"><\/div>\n              <q class=\"block-image-title\">Jag har provat m\u00e5nga aktiviteter och den b\u00e4sta \u00e4r Mat &amp; Bak, eftersom man l\u00e4r sig att laga olika sorters mat<\/q>\n      <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Pancakes are on the agenda today. At one of the stoves, Ahmad Saflo is practising flipping pancakes.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve tried loads of activities, but the best one is Food &amp; Baking because you get to learn to cook different kinds of food,\u201d says Ahmad Saflo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the pancakes are ready, they all sits down together to eat and evaluate the day\u2019s activity. They work out what went well, what they learned and what they need to practice more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt feels very meaningful to be able to follow the children\u2019s journey and see how they develop,\u201d says Iman Bayyari.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"image-grid\">\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2964.jpg\" alt=\"Participant Leo Skottheim and activity leader Iman Bayyari.\">\n\n      <figcaption>Participant Leo Skottheim and activity leader Iman Bayyari.<\/figcaption>\n  \n  <div class=\"image-grid-row\">\n    <div class=\"image-grid-left\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2871.jpg\" alt=\"Alicia Lazzarini and Doua Ahmed taking part in the project.\">\n\n              <figcaption>Alicia Lazzarini and Doua Ahmed taking part in the project.<\/figcaption>\n          <\/div>\n    <div class=\"image-grid-sidebar\">\n      <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-3012-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\">\n\n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">A place for everyone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Leyla Afif is the manager on site in Gottsunda. She\u2019s responsible for making sure everything that happens at the activity centre runs smoothly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMy most important role here at the community activity centre is to make sure there\u2019s a clear structure. We have about forty different activities going on, so there\u2019s quite a bit to keep track of,\u201d she says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Leyla believes that the involvement of the children and young people themselves in influencing the project is one key reason as to why it\u2019s been so successful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe create activities based on what they want to do, and this project wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the children\u2019s participation and influence,\u201d says Leyla Afif.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1152\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2.jpg\" alt=\"A woman sitting in front of a blue sign.\" class=\"wp-image-37243\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2-100x56.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda_Leyla_1.52.2-1000x563.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Leyla Afif is the manager on site in Gottsunda. She\u2019s responsible for making sure everything that happens at the activity centre runs smoothly. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Leyla acts as the public face of the initiative, and she\u2019s the person that many of the local children, young people and adults get to meet. For her, it\u2019s important to ensure that everyone \u2013 regardless of gender, age or origin \u2013 feels they have a place at the community activity centre. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe pick up where school leaves off, and children should be able to come here and find a safe place. This is also true of adults living locally \u2013 we want this to be an intergenerational centre where everyone feels welcome,\u201d says Leyla Afif. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Preventing exclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many benefits to providing meaningful leisure time for children and young people through the community activity centre. It can help prevent mental health problems and social exclusion, for instance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe know that active leisure gives children and young people opportunities for social well-being, higher school attendance, better results at school and greater security and trust in society,\u201d says Linnea Petersson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reaching out to girls born abroad is a challenge when it comes to open leisure activities. Studies have shown that they\u2019re often less likely to participate in organised leisure activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur varied range of activities means we\u2019re able to reach out to a broader target group and so meet the diverse needs of children and young people living in Gottsunda. And we\u2019re really pleased that we have an even gender distribution within the project \u2013 with boys, girls and non-binary,\u201d says Linnea Pettersson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1366\" src=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816.jpg\" alt=\"A person writing on a paper.\" class=\"wp-image-37247\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816-100x67.jpg 100w, https:\/\/www.esf.se\/app\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Gottsunda-2816-1000x667.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Safe adults<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Manager Leyla Afif also emphasises the importance of adults being on hand for children and young people. Every day she meets many of the children who go to school and then stay behind and take part in various activities. She\u2019s one of a number of safe adults that children can turn to.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think it really means a lot to the children. This is a place where they can feel safe, heard and seen.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"infobox bg-with-white-text\" style=\"background-color: #7b485b;\">\n      <h2 class=\"infobox-title\">Gottsunda Community Activity Centre in brief<\/h2>\n  \n      <div class=\"infobox-text\"><ul>\n<li>A three-year project is being implemented at the Gottsunda Community Activity Centre with support from the European Social Fund. The aim of the project is to give children and young people more opportunities for meaningful leisure time. <\/li>\n<li>The project promotes the development of empowerment strategies for children and the structuring of activities based on their needs, interests and experiences.<\/li>\n<li>Fritid Uppsala operates in collaboration with local associations, businesses, organisers and companies.<\/li>\n<li>The project will continue until September 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n  \n            \n              <a class=\"arrow-link \"\n         title=\"View details about the project in Projektbanken\"          href=\"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/resultat\/projektbanken\/projekt\/?dnr=23-017-S01\"\n         target=\"_blank\">\n                <div class=\"arrow\">\n                      <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 18 14\">\n              <g transform=\"translate(2751.553 -2040.461)\">\n                <path d=\"M1423.483,3895.065l6.453,6.454,6.453-6.454\" transform=\"translate(-6636.377 3477.381) rotate(-90)\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n                <path d=\"M-2734.859,2047.445h-16.694\" fill=\"none\" stroke=\"#124261\" stroke-width=\"1.5\"\/>\n              <\/g>\n            <\/svg>\n                  <\/div>\n\n                  View details about the project in Projektbanken\n        \n        <\/a>\n\n      \n      \n      \n            <\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div id=\"daexthefup-container\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"daexthefup-container daexthefup-layout-side-by-side daexthefup-alignment-left\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-id=\"38023\">\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-feedback\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"daexthefup-title\">Hj\u00e4lpte informationen dig?<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-buttons-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-buttons\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-yes daexthefup-button daexthefup-button-type-text\" data-value=\"1\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-button-text\">Ja<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-no daexthefup-button daexthefup-button-type-text\" data-value=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-button-text\">Nej<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-comment\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-comment-top-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label id=\"daexthefup-comment-label\" class=\"daexthefup-comment-label\"><\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-comment-character-counter-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"daexthefup-comment-character-counter-number\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"daexthefup-comment-character-counter-number\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-comment-character-counter-text\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<textarea id=\"daexthefup-comment-textarea\" class=\"daexthefup-comment-textarea\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tplaceholder=\"Hur kan vi g\u00f6ra sidan mer hj\u00e4lpsam f\u00f6r dig?\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tmaxlength=\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t400\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"><\/textarea>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-comment-buttons-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"daexthefup-comment-submit daexthefup-button\">Skicka<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"daexthefup-comment-cancel daexthefup-button\">Avbryt<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"daexthefup-successful-submission-text\">Tack f\u00f6r din feedback!<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Gottsunda Community Activity Centre is based on a model which involves using school premises after school hours to offer free activities for local residents. By offering free and readily accessible activities, the community activity centre can help strengthen democracy, create opportunities for people to meet and contribute to greater integration. \u201cThe aim of the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":37233,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_helpful_pro_status":1,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[313],"class_list":["post-38023","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-en-plats-for-alla"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/38023","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37233"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38023"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.esf.se\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38023"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}