Wellbeing for families and young people

Volunteering can offer valuable support for families with children, young people and individual family members at different stages of life. A volunteer can be a listening ear, practical help in everyday life, or peer support in a difficult situation. Volunteering brings human connection, flexibility and a sense that you don’t have to cope alone. A volunteer does not replace a professional but can complement services in a meaningful way.

The type of support relationship depends on the age of the child being supported (in parentheses below).

Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL)

• Friend (buddy) activities(external link) (ages 6–17): an adult volunteer friend for a child/young person.
• Family godparent / “backup granny”(external link) (under 18): a support person for the whole family.
• A friend for a migrant mother:(external link): friendship activities for migrant mothers.

Save the Children Finland (Pelastakaa Lapset ry)

• Kummikoti ("Godparent home")(external link) (ages 1–12): a support family for special circumstances.
• Lomakotitoiminta ("Holiday home activities (external link)(4–17 v): a holiday home during school holidays.
• Tukihenkilötoiminta ("Volunteer support persons")(external link) (ages 0–17): a volunteer support person for a child/young person.
• Sporttikummi-toiminta ("Sports godparent")(external link) (ages 4–17): a physically active support person.

Pienperheyhdistys ry (Association for single-parent families)

• Mieskaveritoiminta ("Male buddy activities")(external link) (ages 4–17): a male buddy for a child in a single-parent family.
• Mummila-toiminta (“Gramma's home”) (external link)(1–17 v): For children who don’t have grandparents around in everyday life.

OmaKamu

• Friend (buddy) activities(external link) (ages 4–16): a long-term volunteer friend for a child/young person.

All Our Children (Yhteiset Lapsemme ry)

• Support families and support persons to support integration(external link) (ages 4–17 and 18+): support for children, young people and families with a migrant background.

Ehjä ry

• Ressu-toiminta (external link)(ages 7–17): dog-assisted volunteer support person activities.
• Omilleen(external link) (ages 16–22): a support person for young people transitioning to independent living from substitute care.