Finnish Paralympic Committee – SOLIA
The Finnish Paralympic Committee is a non-governmental umbrella sports organization for persons with disabilities in Finland. Paralympic Committee plans, executes and develops sports and physical activity for physically and intellectually disabled people, visually impaired people and transplant recipients. SOLIA is organized by The Finnish Paralympic Committee and offers sporting devices for various rental periods and assistance when it is time to purchase own equipment. SOLIA supports mainly people with disabilities. For the past three years the rental days have been over 10000 days.
In this planet act a simple sharing service lowers the threshold to try and possibly start a new hobby that brings enjoyment, development opportunity and joy. this act is locally sclable, but requires investment from the organization offering the service.
Purpose
SOLIA combines many aspects of responsibility. It creates new hobbies and possibilities for people with disability and increases the equality of sport.
The actions are good for the environment because of the renting possibility, and everyone does not have to purchase their own equipment. On the economical responsibility perspective SOLIA offers easy way for all to test equipment before possible purchase.
People who need the adapted physical activity equipment, should not need to buy expensive equipment, and pay more for the sport than anyone else.
Results
This service helps the important target audience to move and save money for some other actions. This is important since these people are more likely in difficult financial situation.
In 2019 SOLIA rented the equipment for 5706 days. In the middle of the covid-19 pandemia in 2020 the amount of the rental days were 2367 and in 2021 altogether 2744. On average one rental period lasts 11 days.
The Covid-pandemia has affected to the rental days yearly, but the aim is to increase the amount of the rental days yearly back to the 6000 days yearly level. During the past three years 2019-2021 SOLIA has rented the equipment for people with disabalities for 10817 days.
Implementation
SOLIA offers assistive devices for rent in five locations. They are located in Finland in five cities: Helsinki, Masku, Kuopio, Seinäjoki and Rovaniemi. More information can be found via www.valineet.fi website.
The People's Voice