Mentor on the Move Workshop in Helsinki Opened Up Discussion on Inclusion, Sport and Mentoring

On 9 April, the Mentor on the Move workshop brought together participants in Helsinki to explore how mentoring, sport and physical activity can support inclusion, well-being and participation. The event also introduced the project’s free online course, which offers practical tools and fresh perspectives for anyone interested in inclusive mentoring through sport.

How can sport and physical activity become a stronger tool for inclusion? How can mentoring support participation, confidence and connection? These were some of the key questions explored during the Mentor on the Move workshop.

The workshop introduced participants to the Mentor on the Move online course, a free learning resource developed within the project to support more inclusive approaches to mentoring through sport and physical activity. The course is designed for organisations, sports clubs, mentors, coordinators, educators and others who want to strengthen their understanding and practice in this area.

Throughout the event, participants had the opportunity to engage with the core themes of the course and reflect on how they connect to real-life practice. The discussions touched on topics such as inclusion and migration, the role of the mentor, safeguarding, communication, sport for social change, and the practical development of mentoring programmes.

What made the workshop especially valuable was the shared reflection around everyday realities: what kinds of barriers people face when trying to participate, what kind of support is needed, and how organisations and practitioners can respond in more thoughtful, inclusive and practical ways.

A clear message emerged from the discussions: there is strong interest in accessible and practical tools that can help turn good intentions into meaningful action. This is exactly where the Mentor on the Move online course can play an important role. It offers structured content, concrete guidance and space for reflection for those who want to use mentoring and sport as part of inclusive work.

The workshop also highlighted something that is central to the whole project: sport is not only about activity itself. It can also open doors to participation, confidence, community and belonging — especially when combined with mentoring and supportive structures.

For those who joined the workshop, the online course offers a chance to continue exploring the themes in more depth. For those who could not attend, it is an easy and inspiring way to get started.

We warmly invite everyone interested in inclusion, mentoring and sport to take a look at the course and discover the ideas, tools and approaches developed in Mentor on the Move.

Explore the online course here:
Online Course - Monikansallisten naisten hyvinvointi ja liikunta ry