Evaluation of grant schemes

63 Document 3:13 2012–2013 Report The Directorate for Nature Management has issued written guidelines stipulating that disabled persons and ethnic minorities are target groups that shall be prioritised. FRIFO states that they communicate the guidelines to their member organisations, but fi nd that there are few projects directed at these target groups. The member organisations want to reach the target groups, but have experienced that it is dii cult to get people to sign up for events for them. FRIFO is of the opinion that more active work is needed in order to reach more people within the target groups ethnic minorities and disabled persons. Fact box 3 In-depth studies of grants for outdoor recreation measures Grants for outdoor recreation measures – the 4H project “Fri i Fjæra” NOK 225 000 was allocated to the 4H project “Fri i Fjæra” in 2011, and the project was also supported in 2010 and 2012. The support was awarded through FRIFO. 4H has members in the age group 10–19, and the motto is “Learning by doing”. The children are responsible for organising the local chapters, with assistance from adult club advisers. There are approx. 17 000 members, divided among 650 local chapters. “Fri i Fjæra” is a national project aimed at providing children and young people with knowledge about outdoor recreation, traditions, nature and culture along the coast. During the project period, children and young people are offered outdoor recreational activities associated with health, nutrition, physical activity and the environment, for example cooking on the shore, food from the sea, handicraft tradi- tions, travelling along the coast and visits to coastal cultural artefacts. 4H states that the focus on coastal culture helps more children enjoy outdoor recreation and activities in nature. 4H previously had a project, “Friluftsliv for alle” outdoor recreation for all, directed at disabled persons and ethnic minorities. The idea of inclusive outdoor recreation forms the basis for the new focus on coastal culture. Projects are increasingly directed at the local community. It is diffi cult to reach the special groups, but the activities are facilitated for everyone. 4H fi nds that it is easier to reach the ethnic minorities in 4H clubs in the districts compared with the cities, and they believe a solution could be recruiting people with minority backgrounds as club advisers. 4H states that the grant from the Directorate for Nature Management is important, and has made it possible to hire a designated project manager for the coastal culture project. The organisation believes central expertise and development projects are most effective, allowing all clubs to benefi t from the project. 4H has seen that this manner of working results in the activities continuing to live on, even after the project period. Fri i Fjæra is a national 4H project which has been granted for outdoor recreational activities. The project contributes to outdoor recreational activities among children and young people and increa- sed knowledge about coastal heritage. The children learn about cooking on the shore, food from the sea, handicraft traditions, travelling along the coast and visits to coastal cultural artefacts. Photo: The Office of the Auditor General 64 Document 3:13 2012–2013 Report The county authorities believe that there are more good applications directed at children and young people than for ethnic minorities and disabled persons. Fifteen out of seventeen county authorities agree that there are many good applications directed at children and young people, whereas only 2 agree that there are many good applications with measures directed at ethnic minorities. Six agree that there are many good applications directed at disabled persons. The Directorate for Nature Management states that it is challenging to increase the number of applications directed at the prioritised target groups ethnic minorities and disabled persons, and believes that there could be organisations, etc. entitled to grants, that do not apply. However, the Directorate notes that the grant funds help to reach groups that are less engaged in outdoor recreation activities, as the measures are often low-threshold activities that everyone can participate in. The Directorate is pleased with the great ef ort from clubs and organisations in this area. The Ministry of the Environment states that small grants contribute to high activity in outdoor recreation. The voluntary organisations are important for creating activities and involvement. In their opinion, the goal achievement is good. An in-depth study was conducted of a specifi c grant over this item, cf. fact box 3. The Association of Inter-municipal Outdoor Recreation Boards and the Norwegian Trekking Association emphasise that the grant funds contribute to substantial activity. The grant funding constitutes a vital part of the outdoor recreation work, and the organisations can build upon this funding to obtain other fi nancing. The Trekking Association states that grants for wages and operations are often a precondition for and contribute to volunteer work. State acquisitions and protection of outdoor recreation areas The basis for the grant scheme is that the nature in the local community is particularly important for regular physical activity. The grant circular letter stipulates that the grant scheme shall • contribute to ensuring state proprietary rights or usage rights, to safeguard outdoor recreation areas • ensure facilitation, maintenance and stewardship of protected outdoor recreation areas According to Proposition 1 S 2012–2013, about 2350 outdoor recreation areas are protected in Norway. The Directorate states that state funding commitments for pro- tecting 56 new areas were issued in 2012. Urban densifi cation is taking place in many cities which entails that open areas which can be used for play and recreation are used for new buildings, but the access to local hiking areas has remained constant from 2004 to 2009, cf. Proposition 1 S 2012– 2013. The Directorate for Nature Management states that local areas in cities and densely populated areas are prioritised through protecting outdoor recreation areas, which contributes to reaching more people. Statistics Norway measures how many children and young people have access to outdoor recreation areas in their local community, using map data. Protecting outdoor recreation areas is an important policy instrument with regard to maintaining access to outdoor recreation areas. The Directorate for Nature Management is working on a national action plan for state protection and facilitation of outdoor recreation areas which will, among other things, highlight and prioritise the use of grant funding in the area.