Strength and community spirit through cooperation with organisations

The city supports the activities of organisations in many ways, such as by granting subsidies, providing facilities for events, organising training and creating networking opportunities. This ensures that important themes reach the residents of Turku.

Cooperation with organisations is an essential part of the city's strategy and is visible in everyday life, for example, in the free Liiku lähellä exercise groups for senior citizens and in the local living rooms that are open to everyone. The easy-to-join activities bring residents together in their local environment. Extensive partnership work is also carried out in the area of food aid.

Well-being and positive feelings from Liiku lähellä group activities

Turku offers free Liiku lähellä activities for senior citizens in collaboration with local organisations. Group activities are organised in different residential areas to make it easy to participate close to home. No previous experience of exercise is required, as the most important thing in the group is being together and meeting other seniors in the neighbourhood.

Last year, there were Liiku lähellä groups in 40 residential areas. For example, activities began in Suvituuli in Hirvensalo in February 2024, and the group currently has an average of 60 regular participants.

– Our Tuesday group session in Hirvensalo is an easy-to-join activity. It has been great to see and receive feedback from participants that the sessions are producing results. As their fitness improves, everyday tasks become easier to manage. Above all, the group session is not only about exercise but also a chance to meet up and chat, says Merja Entonen, instructor of the Suvituulen Liiku lähellä group activity in Hirvensalo, from Turku NMKY.

New friends and pleasant company in local living rooms

The residents' local living rooms are meeting places that are open to everyone in Turku's residential areas. In the local living room, you can spend time, enjoy a cup of coffee, meet other residents of the area and take part in a variety of activities.

Organisations, private individuals and the city organise activities, hobbies, cultural events, meetings and regional theme days in the local living rooms.

– I've been unemployed for a long time, and the days feel really long. I started going to the local living room to read newspapers, drink coffee and meet other visitors. Now I have plenty of company, and I've also been able to take care of my own affairs. This really helps and improves people's well-being, says Jorma, 57, a visitor to the local living room.

Concrete support and environmentally responsible food-aid 

Turku is also strongly committed to food aid activities, which involve diverse cooperation with, for example, the Southwest Finland District of the Finnish Red Cross. Food aid provides concrete help to those in need and brings security to everyday life. At the same time, it helps to reduce food waste by ensuring that surplus food is not thrown away.

Miika Norro works for the Southwest Finland District of the Finnish Red Cross, where he is responsible for coordinating food aid and supporting volunteers in their friendship activities. The activities include, in particular, the distribution of surplus food from schools. Currently, food aid is distributed in eleven municipalities and approximately 33 schools in Southwest Finland.

– Food aid is based on surplus food from school lunches, which would otherwise go to waste. The aid is sought by those in need of financial assistance, as well as people living alone, families with children and city dwellers who value everyday eco-friendly practices. This is an ideal situation for everyone: food is not wasted and it is distributed to people who need it, Norro explains.

Important everyday meeting places

Food aid distribution times have become important meeting places at many schools, where people come to chat and meet each other before the actual distribution begins.

– We are creating a real sense of community in everyday life. People are finding new friends and looking after each other, Norro says.

Cooperation with the City of Turku has been smooth in terms of school food aid, and this cooperation has enabled its expansion. The city acts as a coordinator in the area and seeks funding to purchase hygiene supplies, for example, and ensure the continuity of operations.

Volunteers play a key role

– Volunteers also play a key role in the success of the activities, and new volunteers are constantly needed. They find their work to be meaningful and participate in distribution acts on a regular basis. Many volunteers say that it is great to be involved in distributing food and doing good. It becomes an important part of everyday life, Norro sums up.

Food aid is much more than just distributing food – it is an environmentally friendly, a community meeting place and an opportunity to help in a concrete way.

Text: Julia Innilä

The article has been published in Finnish in Turkuposti 1, 2026.