The City of Helsinki’s Healthy Boost Pilot Project

The Helsinki pilot aims to strengthen the participation of under-represented groups in social activities and decision-making, and to build equal opportunities for influence to improve wellbeing. The pilot was carried out as a part of the city’s implementation of its “OmaStadi” participatory budgeting projects in 2020-2021. AR-technology helped realize the OmaStadi idea phase video guide as well as the 3D model of an outdoor sports facility based on an OmaStadi idea. OmaStadi marketing and PR also made use of the solution.

In the spring of 2021, as part of the pilot, a three-round panel on remote exercise services for senior citizens was organized. The panel surveyed participation in remote activities, IT support needs, the content and implementation of remote services, as well as information retrieval, marketing, and communications. The work focused on participation by senior citizens and their input on how to develop the services they use. The panels offered valuable data on how to develop remote exercise services.

The panels were co-organized by the Culture and Leisure division’s Sports unit and the Regional Participation team from Helsinki City Executive Office’s Participation and Citizen Information unit. Other city officials also participated in the work and prepared materials for the panels, e.g., the Social and Health Care Division’s Service Centre Digiteam, the city expert in charge of leisure and culture activities for senior citizens, and the project coordinator for the “Lämpiö” project.

Image: Helsingin kaupungin aineistopankki / Katja Tahja