Belonging boosts wellbeing

Promoting wellbeing, health and safety extends to all areas of life. At the beginning of September, the City of Forssa opened a renovated multi-purpose facility called Hyvinvointitalo (“Wellbeing House”) on Haudankorvankatu. The community centre serves as a low-threshold meeting place and a common living room for all residents of Forssa.

The name changed as Yhteisötalo became Hyvinvointitalo, but the building continues to serve as a meeting place for locals. The surfaces of the facility have been updated, more lighting has been added, and the rooms have been made more spacious by removing extra furniture and items.

“The main idea is to support and promote residents’ wellbeing, experiences of inclusion and community spirit,” says the City of Forssa Welfare and Development Manager Tiina Kemppainen.

“The accessibility of community facilities is important. Ystävän Kammari can be found in the city centre, Vikspirtti in Viksberg and Hyvinvointitalo is located between them. We have listened to the needs and wishes of residents of different ages as well as organisations and the third sector. There is a demand for multi-purpose facilities such as this,” says Kemppainen.

Hyvinvointitalo has several common areas: a large, bright living room, a functional hobby room with two sewing machines, a small, convenient kitchen and a play area for children. The spaces are furnished with soft sofas, comfortable armchairs and tables.

The living room has a piano for music enthusiasts, a shared computer, a big screen for presentations and wireless internet access. At the other end of the building, there are two large meeting rooms with big screens for organisations, partners and others, in addition to a good-sized kitchen with a dining table, and office spaces.

A good space is enough 

”People are not asking for the moon. Locals’ wishes go hand in hand with the city’s strategy, which emphasises the overall wellbeing of residents,” says Tiina Kemppainen.

The services provided by the city fulfil these wishes for wellbeing by providing opportunities to enjoy leisure activities, enabling a physically active lifestyle in a safe environment and organising a variety of places for people to gather and make their voices heard.

Many organisations have already found their way to Hyvinvointitalo. The facilities are currently used by patient associations, the Ukrainian Association, a volunteer discussion group for immigrants, a chess club and other hobby clubs. 

“It’s important to be able to belong to a group,” says Tiina Kemppainen.

“The municipality acts as an enabler, and people make their own choices about how to promote their wellbeing and health according to their abilities. The facility offers residents a chance to join a community that they find meaningful.”

Wellbeing Instructor Katja Pirttilä is responsible for the practical operation of Hyvinvointitalo. She offers support to users in addition to organising and leading groups and clubs. 

“These activities are people-oriented and interactive. I hope to be able to develop new groups for both young and elderly people. Next year, it will also be possible to book the facilities online,” says Pirttilä.