Free-of-charge after-school leisure activities will start on Monday, 5 September at all comprehensive schools in Helsinki. Pupils in grades 3–9 can now choose their favourite activity from among over 30 options. Approximately 400 groups belonging to the Finnish model for leisure activities convene in Helsinki every week.
The most popular leisure activities of children and young people are included in the selection for academic year 2022–2023. Last spring, the Finnish model for leisure activities collected the wishes of pupils in Helsinki through school-specific surveys.Pupils can choose their favourite activity from among over 30 different free-of-charge options. The selection includes activities like parkour, football, basketball, gym training, circus, dance, theatre, visual arts, street art, cinema, animation, cooking, history, coding, game design and activities with animals. If a pupil cannot find an activity they enjoy at his or her own school, the pupil can also take part in activities organised at other schools.
Coordinated by the Youth Services of the Culture and Leisure Division, the Finnish model for leisure activities has become a permanent operating model in Helsinki. Every week, approximately 400 free-of-charge leisure activity groups are available to children and young people living in Helsinki.
“The low-threshold leisure activities have attracted especially pupils with few hobbies. Close cooperation with youth workers and school student welfare helps us engage more children and young people in leisure activities,” says Tiina Hörkkö, Area Manager at the City of Helsinki Youth Services.
Each Helsinki school offers three different types of leisure activities to choose from: sports, culture and digital or other. This is called a ‘three basket model’.
“The division of activities into three baskets ensures the provision of a wide range of activities at schools and increases the accessibility of the leisure activities,” says Irma Sippola, Project Manager at the City of Helsinki Youth Services.
New stimuli obtained through leisure activities have also been found to have a positive impact on schoolwork.
“Enjoyable activities in leisure time support schoolwork and learning and also improve the overall well-being of children and young people,” says Kimmo Mustonen, Area Manager at the City of Helsinki Basic Education.
The national leisure activities week takes place on 5–11 September 2022. During the week, children and young people in Helsinki have the opportunity to try out various leisure activities and enrol for after-school activities.
Contact persons
The Finnish model for leisure activities in Helsinki
Area Manager, Youth Services
Tiina Hörkkö
City of Helsinki, Culture and Leisure Division
tel. +358 50 3026404
tiina.horkko@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)
Area Manager, Basic Education
Kimmo Mustonen
City of Helsinki, Education Division
tel. +358 40 6603044
kimmo.mustonen@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)
Project Manager, Youth Services
Irma Sippola
City of Helsinki, Culture and Leisure Division
tel. +358 41 5121795
irma.sippola@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program)
Further information about the Finnish model for leisure activities
The Finnish model for leisure activities in Helsinki on the Culture and Leisure Division’s website
Nuorten.hel.fi website(Link leads to external service)
Information in Finnish about the leisure activities week(Link leads to external service)
The Finnish model for leisure activities is a project by the Ministry of Education and Culture (Minedu) to improve the well-being of children and young people. Helsinki is committed to building a permanent operating model for free of charge hobbies after the school day to bring continuity to the low-threshold leisure activities. All comprehensive schools in Helsinki offer leisure activities to pupils in grades 3–9 at the school premises or in the vicinity between the end of the school day and 17:00. Leisure activities are also offered at state, agreement and private schools in Helsinki. The range of activities and number of activity groups is constantly growing.
Picture: Mauri Tahvonen