Waggeryds IK has invested in becoming an association that is for more. In the Leader project The Future Hope in Vaggeryd they have broadened their activities for new target groups and taken association democracy seriously. If you want to know how – and why – now is the time to read on.
But let’s start in the evening sun on a grass field at Movalla IP.
– If you don’t want to play so much in the match, you can come and cheer from the bench. There will be sausages afterwards, says Mikael Johansson, who stands with a group of players in a circle formation by the side of the grass field.
The match is approaching, and it’s time to inform about what applies going forward.
– Forget the lineup, who will be the team captain?, is heard from one of the players, which makes the whole group laugh.
It’s playful. But it’s also serious. That’s what is called football.
On a sunny June evening at Movalla IP, the para football team, which Waggeryds IK and Skillingaryds IS have started together, has gathered to engage in just that.
– The best part is the community. Everyone gets to participate, says Oskar Nilsson, who is one of the players.
The training consists of various exercises and a lot of passing play. And there will be goals too, of course. But those gathered on the field are all here for the same feeling:
– To have fun, summarizes Melwin Johansson.
It’s a joy that shines again on the field. Another who has a feel for the ball is Elin Johansson.
– I have liked it since I was little, she says, explaining that she has taken up the sport again after para football started. She has been involved from the beginning and has no plans to quit.
An association for more
In 2025, Waggeryds IK launched the project The Future Hope in Vaggeryd with Mikael Johansson as the association developer. By then, the association had already worked out which areas it needed to focus on. It was fundamentally about being an association that is for more people, where members have influence in the activities and where athletes feel comfortable and want to stay. Working to maintain the association over time – not leaning back and thinking that ”it will solve itself.”.
The association wanted to develop more recreational sports and for new target groups, for example, people over 65 years old. Here we are talking about recreational football, pickleball, and group training as examples of activities that this target group is now engaging in under the association's management.
Another idea was to start some form of parasport activity. Previously, there was a weak offering when it came to parasport. When it was time to start para football, it turned out that Skillingaryds IS had the same thoughts, with leaders Hilda Nordfors and Alisia Beciri (in the picture below) at the forefront. They decided to collaborate and start up together, and contacted both group homes and schools to spread the opportunity to participate.
And now they are here.
– It has worked 100% since day one. Everyone has had the same goal – to start a business for people with intellectual disabilities, says Mikael.
Got new engagement
Democracy is an important part of the project. In addition to broadening the activities and being an association for more people, it is about those who are engaged being heard. Associations can actually have a lot to gain by focusing on the influence of their members.
– Instead of sitting and guessing, we have based our work on research. Research shows that if people feel involved and influential, the chances are greater that they will continue longer and the enjoyment increases, says Mikael.
The association has worked to strengthen its democratic work in several ways. Since many decisions in the association affect young people, it is important that they have a voice. To take advantage of the opinions of children and young people, the solution was to establish a youth council. The association has also invited leaders, players, and guardians to training sessions focused on participation and influence. Waggeryds IK has chosen to work with a concept called Quality Club.
They also tested inviting people to an open association meeting, which resulted in new people showing up. One of the people who attended the open meeting chose to get involved – an engagement that at the latest annual meeting was enough to reach the position of chairperson.
At the latest annual meeting, there was a record number of participants: 45 people. There were also 9 motions submitted by the members.
– A phrase you sometimes hear is that association life is a school of democracy, says Mikael, emphasizing the importance of different people with different perspectives having the chance to speak:
– Democracy should tolerate different opinions.
An important factor in democratic work is, according to Mikael, meeting physically. It makes it easier to listen to each other. He wants to pass that tip on to other associations.
– It is worth taking the time to get to know each other.
Link repository with reading tips
Report: Who holds the club? Dissertation: Winning without losing The political and democratic connections of association sports This is Quality Club Method model: Keys to young engagement Leadership initiative – Young people's participation in the association