Stronger Together — Organisations strengthen the services the Wellbeing Services County

Social counsellor and meeting point coordinator Elina Wetterstrand sees how organisations bring warmth, support and a sense of belonging that complements other services offered by the wellbeing services county.

Organisations offer a wide range of activities: group-based programmes such as baby groups and cafés at community meeting points, as well as one-to-one and family-level support through volunteer support persons and support families. Some also provide specialist services, from animal-assisted activities to help in difficult life situations such as during a separation, or in the event of sudden illness or death.

Open meeting points at the Family Centres in Niittykumpu and Espoo Centre provide free, low-threshold activities for families with children. Baby groups, cafés and varied group activities welcome all ages, and especially the youngest with their parents.

“These meeting points are open to everyone and free of charge. You can drop in with a child — or on your own,” says Wetterstrand.

The model is popular and adapts to local needs across our municipalities.

"In Kirkkonummi the annual visitor numbers are very high, while in another municipality the activity may be on a smaller scale and still just as important,” she adds.

In other municipalities a meeting point might be, for example, a residents’ park or a parish café. Municipal meeting points are listed on our website, timetables and weekly programmes are on each instance's own pages.

Support persons are trained volunteers who accompany a young person in everyday life. They offer experiences, encouragement and a reliable presence — exactly what many young people need.

“Support persons aren’t professionals; any one of us can become one and be part of a client’s life,” Wetterstrand notes.

“The aim is to give a child or young person experiences they might not otherwise have — and to be one more safe adult on their path.”

This work has real impact. Alongside cooperating organisations, the wellbeing services county is also looking for new volunteer support persons.

In addition to providing services, organisations offer us valuable partnership. We regularly host pop-up orientations where organisations present their activities to professionals. The sessions help people network and improve the flow of information.

“Here, organisations brief professionals. This raises awareness and enables better guidance for clients,” says Wetterstrand.

“Seeing how collaboration matters, and how people light up about it, has been a highlight of these years.”

If your organisation would like to work with us, for example by offering support-person activities, please get in touch(external link)! You can also apply to become a support person or support family via our website. The next training takes place in early 2026.

We achieve more together.

Learn more on our website:

• Organisational grants — applications open 9–30 September 2025, infosessions 9th and 10th of September
• Meeting point activities
• Support families and support persons