As the Icehearts Europe project approaches its final stretch, the recent partner meeting in Torino, Italy—graciously hosted by UISP Torino—marked a significant milestone. It was the final meeting before the MOVE Congress 2025, and with two years of collaboration behind them, partners used the opportunity not just to report progress, but to reflect on lessons learned, ongoing work, and the future of the project.

Many valuable observations were shared during the meeting—but one tool, in particular, stood out in discussions: SANA—the Situation Analysis and Needs Assessment.

Originally co-developed by EuroHealthNet and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), SANA was designed to support the national adaptation of the Finnish Icehearts model in five pilot countries: Denmark, Estonia, Italy, Slovenia, and Spain. But it quickly became much more than just a planning tool.

SANA helped pilot teams move beyond theory and into the realities of their local context: What does our community look like? What are the specific needs of our children? What support systems, after-school programmes, or facilities already exist? Who do we need to work with—and what might stand in our way?

“The idea is to understand the situation you’re working with—who the children are, what support structures are in place, what legal steps you need to take, and what’s already happening in that space,” said Hannes Jarke of EuroHealthNet. “By thinking through these things early on, you avoid surprises later.”

From infrastructure to legal frameworks, school dynamics to cultural nuances, SANA encouraged each pilot team to gather the data they needed and, crucially, to identify the questions they hadn’t yet asked. It wasn’t just about checking boxes—it was about laying a thoughtful foundation for action.

“We started with a common template,” Hannes explained. “But as partners filled it in, they began to realise—‘If we need this, we also need to think about that.’ It ended up sparking most of the additional questions they had to ask.”

By 2023, the full SANA report was published. It brought together a comprehensive view of conditions across the five pilot countries, highlighting both shared vulnerabilities—such as poverty, educational gaps, and youth mental health needs—and unique local strengths, including dedicated schools, supportive municipalities, and committed grassroots actors.

Importantly, the report highlighted the crucial role of collaboration. Partnerships with schools, local authorities, and existing programmes weren't just helpful—they were essential. As the report concluded, “building on existing networks and learning to cooperate with local actors was one of the biggest strengths of the process.”

SANA also encouraged practical thinking: What kind of permissions are needed to work with children? What equipment is required? Are sports facilities accessible? Do children need additional support to participate?

In answering these questions, SANA anchored the Icehearts Europe pilots in reality.

No wonder, that as conversations in Torino turned toward the question of what guidance to give to so-called next adopters, SANA was top of mind—as a structured way of asking the right questions at the right time.

As Icehearts Europe prepares for its final conference at the MOVE Congress 2025, the project is still going strong. In each of the five countries, Icehearts-inspired activities are now running at full speed. For many partners, it feels almost too soon for the project to end. Discussions in Torino revealed a shared desire to continue and expand the work—even as the official timeline draws to a close.

As several partners admitted, one of the hardest things is having to say “we don’t know” when children ask whether they will see their mentors again next school year.

But the spirit of Icehearts is strong, and the work is far from finished. See you at the Icehearts Europe conference and MOVE Congress!

 

---

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor HADEA can be held responsible for them.