Youth Council

The Youth Council is an advocacy group that represents the interests of young people in Turku, and advances their opportunities to influence and participate.

The aim is to increase dialogue between young people and decision-makers, and to develop city services from the perspective of young people. 

The Youth Council actively influences the decision-making of the City of Turku. Representatives of the Youth Council have the right to speak and attend the meetings of the City Council and most committees. They can also propose initiatives for the Youth Council at the City Council meetings.

In addition, the Youth Council organises various events and activities for young people. It also makes an annual decision on the allocation of Youth Council project funding for young people’s own projects.

Youth Council members are elected through an electronic vote every two years. The next election will take place at the end of 2025, when Youth Council representatives will be elected for the calendar years 2026–2027.

All young people aged 13 to 18, living or studying in Turku, can vote and stand for election. The election method ensures that young people from different schools and levels of education are represented. Read more about the elections in the Youth Council’s regulations.

• you can get your opinions heard and influence issues that matter to young people in Turku
• you receive training and gain valuable new skills (influencing methods, meeting practices, presentation and interaction skills, event planning, communications and marketing, city practices) 
• you have the opportunity to organise events (Youth Council outdoor film, discussion events, the Nuva Gala)
• you decide on project funding for projects created by young people
• you can participate in various networks, working groups and events as a representative of the Youth Council
• you gain valuable experiences, meet new people, and make like-minded friends

• As a rule, Youth Council meetings take place once a month, mostly at the Vimma Art and Activity Centre for Youth.
• The chairpersons prepare the meeting agenda during their own meetings.
• Various internal working groups organise their own meetings as needed (such as working groups for event planning, international affairs, and school cooperation).
• Team-building activities, training sessions, and events to celebrate Christmas and the end of the spring term are organised for the whole Youth Council
• Members can participate in meetings, events and training organised by the Union of Local Youth Councils in Finland (Nuva ry) according to their own interests
• The activities are free of charge for members of the Youth Council. The members receive a fee for attending official meetings.