Icehearts is a sport-based positive youth development (PYD) program targeted at socially vulnerable children and adolescents. The program has been developed in Finland and carried out by Icehearts Finland since 1996. The core aim of the program is to provide socially vulnerable children with one long-term mentoring relationship that lasts through childhood and adolescence, altogether 12 years, from age 7 to 18. The program is embedded within a team sport. Teams are used as a social environment where children – alongside the opportunity to access physical activity – have the possibility to experience a trustworthy relationship with the mentor leading the team, to learn social skills, to make friendships, and to experience a sense of belonging. The mentors provide support in school and schoolwork, team sport as an after-school activity, child-specific individual support, and family support in collaboration with other services. The Icehearts Longitudinal Study (ILS, 2015-2028) investigates the life course and psychosocial wellbeing of boys participating in the program in five teams (n=65) and the impacts, benefits, and outcomes of the program. Multiple methods – including data collection using questionnaires (e.g. Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire), focus groups and individual interviews have been used. According to the quantitative data, improvement in prosocial behaviour, as assessed by the teachers, were found among program participants at four-year follow-up. In focus groups, parents (n=28) reported on increased self-esteem, self-confidence, emotional self-regulation, prosocial behaviour, courage and mental well-being among children participating in the program as a result of having the opportunity to be engaged in leisure-time physical activity in a nurturing environment. Further, mentors’ presence in children’s lives was experienced as a strong support for parenthood and upbringing the child. The mentor was seen as a positive role model for the children. The focus group interviews among the school staff (n=30) showed that the program has potential to prevent school drop-out among children at risk. Children with learning difficulties were assisted by Icehearts mentors in classrooms, in afternoon activities and at home. Besides vulnerable children involved in the program, support provided by the mentors reaches to the whole school community. The Icehearts program has potential in promoting prosocial behaviour and mental well-being as well as preventing school drop-out among socially vulnerable children and adolescents. The findings highlight the importance of role, skills and mindset of the Icehearts mentor leading the team.

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