Do you want to support young people?
We help young people and their loved ones at our Youth Shelters in five cities and meet young people in their everyday environments, such as schools and educational institutions, youth centres and shopping centres. We also offer help for young people and their loved ones throughout Finland online with remote connections at our Youth Shelters and in the Sekasin chat.
Youth Shelters help around the clock, every day of the year. We can offer a young person a safe place to spend the night, if necessary, and parents also receive support in matters concerning parenting.
It is great to be of help to a young person in a difficult situation simply by being there.
Welcome on board as a volunteer at a Youth Shelter!
Professionals and volunteers work together to help young people and their loved ones at the Red Cross Youth Shelters. Volunteers play a central role in the Youth Shelter activities alongside professionals.
As a volunteer, you have a unique opportunity of developing our operations together with professionals, young people and other volunteers.
Youth Shelters genuinely listen to the young people and often work together with the whole family. Youth Shelter professionals always offer their support to the volunteers.
Who can become a volunteer?
Over 700 volunteers of different ages and backgrounds work at our Youth Shelters. Our Youth Shelter volunteers are interested in matters related to adolescence.
If you have a genuine desire to help young people and their loved ones by being present and doing ordinary everyday things, you are a suitable volunteer. The Youth Shelter will offer you training, support and guidance.
We hope to have people of all ages with different language and culture backgrounds volunteer for us. In some of our volunteer activities, you can volunteer without any knowledge of the Finnish language. Join our community of volunteers – Let’s make the world a better place together!
How can I help young people?
Volunteers support young people at different stages of life. They listen, discuss, offer information and perspectives, but also do many practical things with young people, such as cook food and engage in hobbies. The volunteers are present at the Youth Shelters, but also where young people spend their time, e.g. online. You can become an online volunteer from anywhere in Finland or the world.
As an online volunteer, you can e.g.
- help young people in the Sekasin chat (requires a good knowledge of the Finnish language)
- participate in Digiraati (requires a good knowledge of the Finnish language)
- be an online support mentor to a young person becoming independent
- work in Youth Shelter communications and advocacy as a social media ambassador
- be present as a safe adult in the Discord living room
As a volunteer, you can e.g.
- be on call at our temporary accommodation with our professionals
- be a support mentor, i.e. a safe adult, to a young person becoming independent
- meet young people in their everyday environments, such as schools, youth centres and various events
- lead group activities for young people
How can I become a volunteer at a Youth Shelter?
Joining us is easy. Contact your nearest Youth Shelter and say that you are interested in becoming a volunteer. Together, we can come up with a suitable role for you.
Every new volunteer receives an introductory training and a personal introduction to their role.
We are glad to have you on board helping and making a difference!
Contact us or pay us a visit!
Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region have focused their
Christmas time activities to the Helsinki Youth Shelter.
You can call the phone numbers for any of the Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region throughout the Christmas season for discussion support and advice.
Youth Shelters in Espoo and Vantaa will continue temporary accommodation services
in their own premises as of 27 December. All Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region will be open as of this date from 5 pm to 10 am.
Läkkisepänkuja 2 A 14, 02650 Espoo
+358 (0)9 8195 5360
turvatalo.espoo(at)redcross.fi
(temporary accommodation, discussion support, fixing sleep patterns and volunteer activities)
Director Isto Onali
+358 (0)40 770 4579
isto.onali(at)redcross.fi
Coordinator Erik Bruun
+358 (0)40 627 3431
erik.bruun(at)redcross.fi
(support in becoming independent, cooperation with schools and educational institutions, student internships)
The Youth Shelter is open around the clock on weekdays and from 5 pm to 10 am on weekends.
Temporary accommodation for young people is open every day from 5 pm to 10 am.
Espoo Youth Shelter is easily reached with A, E, S, U, L and Y train services that stop at Leppävaara and with Espoo’s internal buses.
WhatsApp: +358 40 776 5548
Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region have focused their
Christmas time activities to the Helsinki Youth Shelter.
You can call the phone numbers for any of the Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region throughout the Christmas season for discussion support and advice.
Youth Shelters in Espoo and Vantaa will continue temporary accommodation services
in their own premises as of 27 December. All Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region will be open as of this date from 5 pm to 10 am.
Uudenmaankatu 32 A, 00120 Helsinki
+358 (0)9 622 4322
turvatalo.helsinki(at)redcross.fi
Director Miki Mielonen
+358 (0)40 570 9397
miki.mielonen(at)redcross.fi
Coordinator Tiia Suutarinen
+358 (0)40 660 6980.
tiia.suutarinen(at)redcross.fi
(volunteer activities, cooperation with schools and educational institutions, student internships)
The Youth Shelter is open around the clock on weekdays and from 5 pm to 10 am on weekends.
Temporary accommodation for young people is open every day from 5 pm to 10 am.
You can travel to Helsinki Youth Shelter with 20 and 30 buses and tram routes 1 and 3.
WhatsApp: +358 40 173 4149
The Tampere Youth Shelter will be opened on Christmas Eve 24 December at 3 pm and remain open until 10 am on 26 December. After this, the Tampere Youth Shelter will be open every day from 5 pm to 10 am as usual.
Hämeenkatu 22 C, 33200 Tampere
+358 (0)40 556 6661
turvatalo.tampere(at)redcross.fi
Director Mari Uusi-Niemi
+358 (0)400 740 798
mari.uusi-niemi(at)redcross.fi
Coordinator Johanna Riiheläinen
+358 (0)40 726 1307
johanna.riihelainen(at)redcross.fi
(volunteer activities, cooperation with schools and educational institutions, student internships)
The Youth Shelter is open around the clock on weekdays and from 5 pm to 10 am on weekends.
Temporary accommodation for young people is open every day from 5 pm to 10 am.
WhatsApp: +358 40 556 6661
The Turku Youth Shelter will be open every day around the clock during Christmas time. The Turku Youth Shelter will also offer help at all times between Christmas and New Year and around the New Year, as well.
Yliopistonkatu 24 A 15, 20100 Turku
+358 (0)2 253 9667
turvatalo.turku(at)redcross.fi
Director Marina Stubb
+358 (0)40 187 0664
marina.stubb(at)redcross.fi
Coordinator Susanne Etholen-Rättö
+358 (0)40 540 8430
susanne.etholen-ratto(at)redcross.fi
(volunteer activities, cooperation with schools and educational institutions, student internships)
The Youth Shelter is open every day around the clock.
Temporary accommodation for young people is open from 5 pm to 10 am.
We are also available by phone around the clock.
WhatsApp: +358 40 660 8048
Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region have focused their
Christmas time activities to the Helsinki Youth Shelter.
You can call the phone numbers for any of the Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region throughout the Christmas season for discussion support and advice.
Youth Shelters in Espoo and Vantaa will continue temporary accommodation services
in their own premises as of 27 December. All Youth Shelters in the Helsinki region will be open as of this date from 5 pm to 10 am.
Rekola Estate, Sairaalakatu 3, 01400 Vantaa
+358 (0)9 871 4043
turvatalo.vantaa(at)redcross.fi
Director Pekka Väänänen
+358 (0)40 548 2750
pekka.vaananen(at)redcross.fi
Coordinator Sara Jessen
+358 (0)40 620 2138
sara.jessen(at)redcross.fi
(volunteer activities, cooperation with schools and educational institutions, student internships)
The Youth Shelter is open around the clock on weekdays and from 5 pm to 10 am on weekends.
Temporary accommodation for young people is open every day from 5 pm to 10 am.
Vantaa Youth Shelter is easily reached with K train service (Rekola) and Vantaa’s internal buses.
WhatsApp: +358 50 339 5413
Further information on Vantaa Youth Shelter also available on Rednet.
Kirsti Viinikka, Project Manager
kirsti.viinikka@redcross.fi
+358 (0)40 660 1108
Johanna, crisis and family worker (client work)
+358 (0)40 709 1735
Elina, crisis and family worker (client work)
+358 (0)40 182 4072
Heidi, crisis and family worker (client work)
+358 (0)40 595 1006
Read more about the Eteenpäin project.
Kirsti Viinikka, Project Manager, Kotipolku project
+358 (0)40 660 1108
kirsti.viinikka(at)redcross.fi
In the Sekasin chat, young people can talk with reliable adults about anything on their mind (this service is only in Finnish).
Come meet and listen to young people online: become a volunteer in the Sekasin chat. (requires a good knowledge of the Finnish language)
Digiraati is a unique participation and influencing platform for people under the age of 29. Participating in Digiraati discussions is an easy and safe way to make one’s voice heard. Digiraati also offers many kinds of volunteer activities for young adults.
Read more and join Digiraati! (Only in Finnish for the time being)
Digiraati discussions strengthen the interaction between young people and decision-makers. Digiraati is an excellent tool for interacting with young people when an organisation wants to engage in development work or make decisions concerning young people.
Read more and contact us. (Only in Finnish for the time being)
Facebook: facebook.com/turvatalo
Twitter: twitter.com/turvatalo
Instagram: instagram.com/nuortenturvis_
TikTok: tiktok.com/@nuortenturvis
Leena Suurpää, Manager of Finnish Red Cross Youth Shelters
+358 (0)50 543 8251
leena.suurpaa(at)redcross.fi