Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade

What Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade does

Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade, headquartered in Vällingby, Stockholm, is a Swedish non-profit charitable association ("ideell förening") founded in 1969 (originally as "Blinda Barns Utveckling," renamed in 2000) that provides leisure, sports, and recreational activities for visually impaired individuals across Sweden, with a primary focus on children and youth aged roughly 7-25 and secondary services to adults and families. The organization operates Mälargårdarna, a 54-bed lakeside facility near Enköping on Lake Mälaren that was acquired in 2009 and serves as the hub for weekend programming, summer camps, and dedicated competitive events such as Active Games (annual youth competition) and Paragames (international goalball tournament).

Core offerings include weekly sports training in goalball, showdown, and swimming at facilities in Stockholm; approximately 40 weekend activities per year at Mälargårdarna covering sports, music, cooking, electronics/technology, and outdoor programs; trips and excursions (including ski trips to the Alps) with travel subsidies for members living outside Stockholm; an amateur radio club (SK5CG); and a music room with a recording studio. Weekly training in goalball and showdown is delivered by dedicated responsible coaches (Lisa Ly, Lars Naesström, Adam Willborg, Mikael Åkerberg, Rebekah Krebs), with the goalball team having won national gold in 2019 and 2024. The association is also piloting a proprietary digital guiding system for hiking, developed with Nordic Evolution and studied by Mid Sweden University, that uses centimeter-accuracy GPS coordinates and Bluetooth-audio cues to enable visually impaired hikers to navigate trails independently.

The business model is a non-profit membership and donations model: annual membership fees (200 SEK individual / 500 SEK family), per-activity participation fees (children free up to age 8, 150 SEK ages 9-25, 300 SEK age 26+, 500 SEK family), monthly giving tiers (25-200 SEK), facility rental of Mälargårdarna to external groups, and roughly 15 corporate sponsors (Svenska Spel grassroot mechanism, Medicolle, Trifam Fastighteter, Extendo, Iris Hantverk, Pennybridge, etc.). Operations are run by 6 paid staff under governance of a 7-member board (at least 4 of whom must be visually impaired or related to someone who is), audited by Svensk Insamlingskontroll which requires at least 75% of donations to fund charitable purpose.

Name

Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade

Legal name

Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade

Website

https://aktivasynskadade.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade is a Swedish non-profit association founded in 1969 that delivers sports, weekend, and recreational programming for visually impaired children, youth, and adults, operating the Mälargårdarna facility near Enköping and serving members across Sweden through membership fees, donations, and corporate sponsorship.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Recreation Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability & Adaptive Sports Organizations (Paralympic, Special Olympics) (MPAKACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Para-Sport Event Organizers (MPAKADAM), Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK), Adaptive & Para-Sport Coaching (HSADAEAM), Adaptive & Para-Sport Training Programs (MPAKAJAK), Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Visually impaired recreation
• Adaptive sports programs
• Nonprofit leisure services
• Accessible sports training
• Disability community programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Vällingby, Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees that provide access to all association activities. Individual membership costs 200 kr per year, family membership costs 500 kr per year.
2. Activity Participation Fees: Fees charged for participation in specific activities. Weekend activities on Mälargårdarna cost 150 kr for ages 9-25, 300 kr for 26+, free for children up to 8 years, and 500 kr for families. Travel subsidies are provided for members outside Stockholm.
3. Donations and Sponsorship: The organization accepts donations in any amount, monthly contributions (25, 50, 100, 200 kr/month), and receives corporate sponsorship from various companies.
4. Facility Rental: Mälargårdarna can be rented out for summer camps, conferences, and other events. The facility has 54 beds and various amenities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade is a non-profit association that delivers an active, varied and meaningful leisure program for visually impaired individuals, with special focus on children and youth. Offerings include weekly adaptive sports training (goalball, showdown, swimming, skiing, fencing, motorsports, bowling), weekend camps and themed weekends at the Mälargårdarna facility near Enköping, organized trips and excursions, an annual sports competition (Active Games), and an international goalball competition (Paragames). Family participation, travel subsidies and a community of sighted volunteers underpin the program.

Product overview

Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade is a non-profit organization offering leisure and recreational activities for people with visual impairments, with special focus on children and youth. The organization operates primarily through Mälargårdarna, a rural activity center near Enköping with approximately 54 beds, and provides regular sports programs including goalball, showdown, and swimming. Core offerings include weekend activities (helgverksamhet), summer camps, organized trips and excursions, music programs with a dedicated music room and recording studio, and an amateur radio club. The organization also hosts annual competitions including Active Games (for youth) and Paragames (international goalball tournament). Activities are designed for both visually impaired individuals and their families, with travel subsidies available for members throughout Sweden.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mälargårdarna Activity Center A year-round recreational facility located near Lake Mälaren outside Enköping, providing approximately 54 beds in the main building Lillebo, a full kitchen, dining hall, TV room, private beach with island (Mälarvik), and outdoor activities. The property is adapted for visually impaired users with guided paths and Braille markings, and hosts the majority of the association's weekend programs.
• Idrottsverksamhet (Sports Activities Program) Regular weekly adaptive sports training programs for visually impaired members, including goalball, showdown, and swimming, with participation in national and international competitions. Conducted at Gubbängshallen in Stockholm and other partner venues.
• Goalball A fast-paced team sport for people with visual impairment, played with a ball containing bells and goals spanning the full width of the court. Training offered twice weekly in Gubbängshallen, Stockholm. The goalball team won SM Gold (National Championship) in 2019 and the 2024 Mix-SM.
• Showdown A rapid racket sport for people with visual impairment played on a table slightly larger than a ping-pong table. Extra focus on children and youth aged 7-25, with training offered twice weekly. Led by responsible coaches Lars Naesström and Adam Willborg with 30 years of voluntary engagement.
• Active Games An annual sports competition for children and young people with visual impairment aged 7-20, held in Enk\u00f6ping since 2013. Features competitions in showdown, goalball, swimming, football, electronic shooting, bowling, and cross-country running.
• Helgverksamhet (Weekend Activities) Weekend programs held at Mälargårdarna including summer camps, music weekends, sports weekends, health weekends, holiday celebrations, and radio/technology weekends. Approximately 40 such weekends are organized annually.
• Resor och Utflykter (Trips and Excursions) Organized trips including day excursions, longer journeys, ski trips, and visits to amusement parks and zoos. Travel subsidies are provided for members living outside Stockholm, who pay only 300 kr for round-trip travel.
• Amatörradioklubb (Amateur Radio Club) An amateur radio club associated with the organization, meeting regularly at Mälargårdarna and welcoming participants of all experience levels under callsign SK5CG.
• Musikrum och Musikstudio (Music Room and Studio) An equipped music room with instruments including drums, electric guitar, bass, piano, singing microphones, and accordion, plus a recording studio that allows members to create and record music.
• Paragames Annual international parasport competition in goalball organized by the association, attracting participants from outside Sweden.

Quantifiable outcome

• Ages 7-20 can participate in the annual Active Games competition
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Mittuniversitetet (Mid Sweden University)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024Mittuniversitetet received research funding to study the digital guiding system developed by Nordic Evolution. Association members served as test subjects, testing the system on various hiking trails and providing feedback through surveys.
• MedicolleminorOthersHealthcare-related company listed as a sponsor on the association's sponsors page.
• Trifam FastigheterminorOthersReal estate company listed as a sponsor providing financial support.
• ExtendominorOthersSecurity company for road and rail transport listed as a sponsor on the association's sponsors page.
• Office NetworkminorOthersTechnical equipment supplier listed as a sponsor. 'A complete supplier of technical equipment.'
• BurdeminorOthersCalendar company listed as a sponsor. 'Largest in the Nordic region for calendars.'
• Eko ReklamminorOthersPromotional products company listed as a sponsor. Established 1982.
• Iris HantverkminorOthersBroom-making company staffed by visually impaired individuals. 'Broom-making by people with visual impairment.'
• PennybridgeminorOthersCharity aggregator listed as a sponsor. 'Sweden's largest aggregator for charity.'
• Not Just CardsminorOthersCards and stamps company supporting the association. 'We help you help.'
• PÅ MediaminorOthersProduction company and print shop listed as a sponsor.
• Stockholms FjällkoloniföreningminorOthersStockholm mountain colony association providing support for camps and colonies.
• Svenska Spel (Swedish Lottery)minorOthersNational lottery company. Members can choose the association as their grassroot recipient ('välj oss gärna i gräsroten').
• Optiker AlmåminorOthersOptician business listed as a sponsor.
• DBFK (De Blindas Fritidsklubb)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation for blind people's leisure club. Collaboration partner for swimming activities and showdown training. DBFK provides a leader for swimming sessions and members can participate in DBFK activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Move United: US national organization providing adaptive sports opportunities for people with disabilities. Comparable as a community-based adaptive sports league operator focused on inclusion through sport.
• Special Olympics: Global organization providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Comparable as a large-scale adaptive sports NPO running competitions and training programs, though serving a different disability cohort.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): The largest US organization of blind people, advocating for accessibility and community programs. Comparable as a large national membership NPO serving visually impaired constituencies with programs spanning advocacy, recreation, and community.
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): One of the UK's largest charities for people with sight loss, offering community programs and accessible activities. Comparable mission and NPO delivery model for visually impaired communities in another European market.
• International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA): The international governing body for blind sports, including goalball at the Paralympic level. Operates in the same goalball and adaptive sports category that Aktiva Synskadade competes in.

Others

• Iris Hantverk: A Swedish broom-making enterprise staffed by visually impaired craftspeople. Listed as a partner of Aktiva Synskadade and shares the cause-related mission of employing and empowering visually impaired individuals in Sweden.

Direct peers

• De Blindas Fritidsklubb (DBFK): A Stockholm-based leisure club for blind people, explicitly named as a collaboration partner for swimming and showdown. Highly comparable in offering adapted leisure activities to a similar visually impaired membership.
• Svensk Handikappidrott: Regional/historical Swedish disability sports organization offering adapted sports opportunities. Operates in the same Swedish disability sports ecosystem as Aktiva Synskadade and Parasport Sverige.
• Parasport Sverige: The Swedish Parasport Federation, the national umbrella for disability sport. Listed as a partner of Aktiva Synskadade and the most direct institutional peer in organizing para-sport activities and competitions.
• Synskadades Riksförbund (SRF): The Swedish National Federation of Visually Impaired, the principal national advocacy and service body for visually impaired people in Sweden. Directly comparable mission and constituency; Aktiva Synskadade operates as a more sport/leisure-focused complement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aktivasynskadade
• Instagraminstagram.com/aktivasynskadade
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aktiva-synskadade

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Riksföreningen Aktiva Synskadade