CYP Now - International Focus: SOS Children's Villages, Finland

Finland has a population of 5.5 million. Despite being a relatively wealthy country - its per capita output is equivalent to France - it has an unemployment rate of nearly 10 per cent and youth unemployment is double that level. Nearly one million Finns earn too little to cover their costs of living, with one in 10 children having welfare needs.

Rising economic hardship over the past decade has seen increased demand for welfare and social services has turned attention to intervening earlier. This has led to the growth in preventative services run by the voluntary sector, such as SOS Children's Villages, aimed at working intensively with families.

CULTURE AND SOCIETY

Finland's municipalities account for half of public spending, which is financed by municipal income tax, state subsidies, and other revenue. As of 2017, there are 311 municipalities, and most have fewer than 6,000 residents.

Finland's social protection system is underpinned by an assessment of each municipalities' social needs. Information from this is then used to shape welfare services. The aim is to provide a sufficient level of support across an area, rather than targeted interventions against poverty.

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