On the move with a volunteer companion

Cultural experiences, sports and the joy of nature with a companion

Companions are volunteers from the City of Tampere who will go out with you for exercise and culture. For example, you can go to museums, the city's culture routes, nature, water running or the city's gyms.

A companion is primarily a sports or cultural companion and is not a substitute for a personal assistant, museum guide or sports instructor.

A companion can be ordered by an adult resident of Tampere. To participate in the activity, you must be able to work and move independently or with your own personal assistant. The activity is anonymous, we only use first names.

Welcome!

Where to go with a companion for example?

Free of charge

museums and exhibitions: Amuri Museum of Workers’ Housing, Museum Milavida, Moomin Museum, Sara Hildén Art Museum, Tampere Art Museum, Werstas - The Finnish Labour Museum, Police Museum and Museum Centre Vapriikki
Dance Theatre MD's own performances
walking and cycling tours
culture route walks

Companion's and your ticket 0 €. It is also possible to guide small groups.

At special prices

For Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra concerts
For the Tampere Philharmonic Orchestra evening concert, you pay a reduced ticket price of €15. For the Afternoon of Fauns concert, the ticket price is €7.

At normal prices

Arthouse Cinema Niagara films
City of Tampere swimming pools
City of Tampee gyms

You pay for your own ticket or entrance fee.

Companion service contact information

Further information and requests for volunteer companions at cultural or sports activities Mondays and Thursdays 10-12:

Phone: 040 806 3910
E-mail: [email protected]

If you are looking for a constant friend and walking companion for yourself or a loved one, you can find the Friends Service volunteers Finnish Red Cross (in Finnish) and Granny’s Corner. Also, many home care companies offer a paid walking service, which is tax deductible.

Sports companion activities in Spring 2025

The walking groups are free of charge and you do not need to register. The use of walking poles adds efficiency to the walk, but you can also participate without them if you wish. The pace of the walk is determined by the group. Weather permitting.

Lentävänniemi, Wednesdays at 10 am, meeting in front of K-market, Männistönkuja 2.
Lielahti, Mondays at 10.30, meeting in front of Lielahden lähitori, Lielahdenkatu entrance. Duration about an hour.
Kauppi, Tuesdays at 10 a.m., meeting at the outdoor gym near the baseball stadium, Kuntokatu 5.
Lamminpää, Thursdays at 10 am, meeting at Rauhanportti, Rauhantie 21. Duration about 1.5 hours.

Companions act as peer mentors in the gyms. There is no need to sign up for a group. One-time payment. In the gym, you must be able to use the equipment independently or with your own personal assistant.

Kaukajärvi Leisure Centre, Käätykatu 8, Tuesdays 10-11 am
Nääshalli, Näsijärvenkatu 8, Mondays 11-12, Thursdays 10-11 and Fridays 13-14
Tampere Swimming Centre, Joukahaisenkatu 7, Wednesdays 10-11 am
Tesoma Ice Hall gym, Tuomarinkatu 7, Tuesdays 10-11 am

Get out and about with companions are a variety of companion-led events across the city. Nature walks and cycling events are free and open to all, lasting 1-2 hours for walking and 2-3 hours for cycling.

Bring your own snacks and drinks. There is no need to register in advance.

Information will be updated!

Indoor walking group at Hakametski ice rink on Tuesdays from 10-11 a.m. The indoor walking group also includes gymnastics sessions. The group is free of charge and no registration is required.

Entrance and meeting point is at the door on the Edu Herkkukeidas side, at the corner of Hakametsä 2, Keltinkatu 2.

A relaxed cycling event for seniors at 12-14 km/h, lasting 2-3 hours. We will stop for a coffee (for a fee). Gear according to the weather, bring a water bottle and wear a helmet. Mira Kokko from the Cycling Federation will accompany you.

The programme will be updated.

Orienteering is an excellent form of exercise that is suitable for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. If you find it difficult to go into the woods on your own, you can ask a sports companion to accompany you. Evening orienteering ("Iltarastit") can also be self-supporting, so you can walk the trail with a companion at a time that suits you.

Contact us, details on this page.

You can go into the forest alone or in a small group, and you can also ask a companion to accompany you. Please contact us, contact details on this page.

Walking in the forest promotes heart, respiratory and circulatory health, improves balance and strengthens the muscles of the legs and buttocks in particular. There are many ways to move in nature, and even quiet exercise has health benefits.

Cultural companion activities in Spring 2025

Our cultural companions lead cultural routes open to all and are on duty at museums. See below for upcoming cultural routes and on-call visits. Culture routes are held in autumn and spring on the last Wednesday of the month at 13:00. Exceptions in April and June.

Open to all, culture routes are always held on the last Wednesday of the month at 13:00 in Finnish.

The routes are usually announced in the same day's Aamulehti and on Kulttuuri Tampere Facebook the day before.

Wear comfortable walking shoes. There will also be standing, so remember to dress warmly!

Spring 2025

Wednesday 29.1. at 13:00 Lauri Viita's Pispala and Tampere, Laikku Lecture hall, lecture in Finnish (accessible, no walking).

Wednesday 26.2. at 13:00 Industrial Tammela, Laikku Music Hall, lecture in Finnish (accessible, no walking)

Wednesday 26.3. at 13:00 Elin Danielson-Gambogi, Laikku Lecture Hall, lecture in Finnish (accessible, no walking)

Wednesday 23.4. at 13:00 Wivi Lönn, starting point: in front of Wivi Lönn School (Hämeenpuisto 34)

Wednesday 28.5. at 13:00 Juice's Tampere, starting point: Juice's library (Pellavantori), ending point: Laikku.

Wednesday 11.6. at 13:00 Härmälä beach villas, starting point: Härmälä boat launch, at the end of Valmetinkatu.

Welcome to the routes to update your knowledge of Tampere's history and culture!

Valentine's Day on Friday 14.2.

12 noon - 16 p.m. If you need a companion for your exhibition tour, take a tour with a guide.

10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Companions by prior reservation: a companion can be booked by a resident of Tampere who is of legal age. To arrange your own time in advance, please email: [email protected]. Pre-booking is free of charge.

More information on Tampere Art Museum

Want to get involved in volunteering?

We are looking for new cultural and sports companions, especially in the Hervanta area, to lead a Nordic walking group and as a peer instructor for the gym! To become a companion, all you need is an interest in volunteering and a desire to move and inspire others to move. We offer you versatile training, professional support and a joyful sense of doing things together.

Contact sports instructor Sari Helminen.

The activities are intended for people of legal age.

All tasks require the knowledge and skills of an ordinary person, and volunteers are also familiarised with companion activities. For more information about volunteering and the companion positions available, please contact us.

Volunteer companions can, among other things:

Encourage and take others on cultural, sporting and nature trips.
assist museum professionals in the Vapriikki Kuva-arkisto and the Ruskon kokoelmakeskus by participating in the museum's collection work
participate in cultural environment work in the Tampere region, with guidance from the Pirkanmaa Regional Museum
acting as peer advisors at Peurankallio, Kuusela, Tammela and Keinupuisto lähitori meeting and service points
assist children and families in the Children's Cultural Centre Rulla

Katri Kaitajärvi

More information on cultural companions Museum educator

Phone:

041 730 5979

Email:

[email protected]

Sari Helminen

More information on sports companions Sports Instructor

Phone:

050 364 8627

Email:

[email protected]

Watch the cultural companion's presentation video

Presentation on Kulttuuri Tampere Youtube

Give feedback

You can use this form to give feedback. Feedback is given anonymously, but if you wish, you can leave your contact details and we will contact you.

Companion feedback form (in Finnish)

On the move with a volunteer companion

On this page

Cultural experiences, sports and the joy of nature with a companion

Where to go with a companion for example?

Free of charge

At special prices

At normal prices

Companion service contact information

Sports companion activities in Spring 2025

Open walking groups in the spring season 13.1.-16.5.2025 Expand Collapse

Open gym groups in the spring season 13.1.-16.5.2025 Expand Collapse

Get out into nature Expand Collapse

Hakametsä indoor walking group 21.1.-29.4.2025 Expand Collapse

Seniors in the saddle events Expand Collapse

Evening orienteering Expand Collapse

Forest trips Expand Collapse

Cultural companion activities in Spring 2025

Culture routes open to all Expand Collapse

Museum cooperation Expand Collapse

Current Expand Collapse

Want to get involved in volunteering?

Katri Kaitajärvi

Sari Helminen

Watch the cultural companion's presentation video

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Give feedback