Turku reinvents its youth Strategy: New model boosts well-being, inclusion and cross-sector innovation
Concrete examples of new actions that enhance the well-being of children and youth include expanding club and hobby activities within the school day, hiring school youth workers, the VimmA Night Café, and the Boostii benefit.
The City of Turku has renewed its organizational structure to better support the well-being and inclusion of children and young people. Even in the first months, the new operating model has already demonstrated clear benefits, particularly in cross-sector collaboration.
Concrete examples of new actions that enhance the well-being of children and youth include expanding club and hobby activities within the school day, hiring school youth workers, the VimmA Night Café, and the Boostii benefit.
"We want to create a model that firmly establishes children’s participation. This autumn, as a basis for this work, we are conducting skididialogues during school breaks now that phones have been put away. In lower secondary schools, students will also be able to choose new equipment they want for their schoolyards," says Turku’s Deputy Mayor, Elina Rantanen.
Concrete Measures
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Since August, Turku has been piloting inclusive preparatory education in local schools. This instruction is intended for first-grade pupils who have recently arrived in the country.
School youth workers have been hired for a total of eight primary and lower secondary schools. These workers, present in everyday school life, are familiar and trusted adults who are available during breaks and listen to young people’s thoughts and ideas for shared activities.
VimmA’s Night Café has become a popular meeting place for young people aged 13-29. Thanks to the centralization of youth work, youth facilities are also now open more often.
Club and hobby activities have been increased within the school day, and every 7-19-year-old child or young person in Turku receives the Boostii benefit, which can be used to pay for guided sports activities offered by local clubs or associations. The benefit has already helped nearly 10,000 children and youth in Turku find a meaningful hobby.
"Together, we are building an even stronger Turku for children and young people, and our new area-based model further strengthens these possibilities," states Anu Parantainen, Director of Services for Children and Youth.
Area-Based Model Breaks Down Silos
Starting in early 2026, Turku will transition to a shared regional model covering early childhood education, basic education, and youth work. Child protection NGOs from Southwest Finland and the Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland are also invited to participate.
The aim of closer cooperation is to provide services that are better targeted to each area and to strengthen the support received by local leaders—such as principals, daycare directors, and youth work coordinators.
Turku Is a Child-Friendly Municipality
Turku is committed to making its operations increasingly child-friendly. Through UNICEF’s Child-Friendly Municipality programme, the city promotes the realization of children’s rights. The associated measures guide the entire municipality toward making sound and lasting decisions in services and administration for the well-being of children.
The City of Turku will prepare a detailed Child-Friendly Municipality action plan during spring 2026. The programme is closely linked to the city’s strategy, in which well-being, inclusion, and equality are core values.
"In practice, the Child-Friendly Municipality programme means the best possible decisions, services, growth environments, and interactions for every child under the age of 18. We are developing, among other things, child impact assessments and their usability in decision-making. The programme also aims to create permanent models for hearing and including children in the most vulnerable positions," explains planner Virpi Mäkinen.