Info and applying
Children need a familiar environment, safe adults and meaningful things to do in the afternoons. For this reason, Helsinki YMCA organises afternoon physical activities for first and second grade school children in a secure environment in 11 different offices in the immediate vicinity of the school site. Around 650 children are involved in the activity every day. We operate in facilities with regular use of the gym and good outdoor areas.
In the club, children make friends and have a safe place to hang out, and there is always a knowledgeable adult directing the activities. While there, the child plays, moves, gets to go outdoors, becomes acquainted with different sports, does his or her homework and is given a snack. During the afternoon, children also have the opportunity to rest and do their own thing in the presence of an instructor.
The afternoon club operates every school day from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Applying to the club
Children are selected for afternoon activities for one school year at a time. Unlike previous years, application forms cannot be returned to groups, but can be applied for via Wilma, or by mailing the form to the City of Helsinki.
The application period for the 2025–2026 school year is 17 March–16 April 2025
At the same time as school entrants, future second graders and special needs students can also apply for the activities.
Application instructions and the Wilma link can be found on the City of Helsinki website.
Customer fees vary depending on the selected activity time:
12-17 contract: €120 / month
12-16 contract: €100 / month
The level of the customer fee is determined by the Board of Education, and they are the same for all after-school clubs. The activity time of the after-school club can be changed once during the school year and should be done officially by email to the after-school club email. Changes will not be made retroactively. You can apply for a payment reduction for the after-school club fees using the form found on the website of the City of Helsinki.
Information about the after-school club
General guidelines for parents regarding the Helsinki YMCA after-school club
Below you can find general guidelines for everyday life at the after-school club. Instructions may differ slightly by the location, more detailed location-specific instructions can be found in the information letter sent to the members of the after-school club.
Everyday life at the after-school club
Children are picked up from school for the first two weeks (in exceptional situations, e.g., in Pakila, children are picked up from school as long as necessary to ensure safe transitions). The instructors picking up the children wear Helsinki YMCA shirts. On the first day, we go through the common rules of everyday operation with the after-school club members and get to know the other children in the group as well as the instructors.
The after-school club is open from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. When the child arrives from school, we settle down first and do the homework (please inform us if you don’t want your child to do homework in the club), after homework there is time to play, be outdoors or rest until snack time, which is at around 2 p.m. A snack is not a substitute for school lunch, so we recommend talking at home with the child about what he or she is eating at school. After the snack, we go out, and, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., it is programme time. The programme is carried out in groups into which children are divided in the first club weeks. The programme varies from sports, crafts, and outdoor activities to playing and games.
Between Monday and Thursday, the children have different guided activities. There are usually no guided activities on Fridays, but you can bring your own toy or game to the after-school club – however, you cannot bring games consoles, computers, MP3 players or other electronic items that break down easily. Also, the time for playing cards in the after-school club is Fridays.
Pick up policy / notification princliples
Send a text message to the after-school club number or call if your child is sick or otherwise won’t attend the after-school club. After getting out of school, we will wait for half an hour, after which we call the parents if the child does not show up at the club.
If your child is going to be picked up by someone other than a family member, inform us by sending a text message, email or calling in advance.
The after-school club closes at 5 p.m., so the children must be picked up by then. If you find yourself running late, please inform us about it in advance and arrangements can be made with the instructor. If the activity has been reserved until 4 p.m., the child must be picked up by then. Any exceeding of activity time is billed €20 for each hour starting.
Clothing
In the after-school club, we go out on a daily basis. It is useful to be wearing weather-appropriate clothing and to have spare clothing with you in your backpack/locker. You should also have sweatpants or other comfortable clothing, and a change of socks and underpants. In the gym, we exercise without socks or use indoor sports shoes/sneakers.
Mobile phones
The place for a child’s mobile phone in the after-school club is in the child’s own backpack, on silent mode. You can reach your child during the day from the after-school club phone. If the child wants to use the phone, this must be agreed upon separately with the instructor – this also applies to calls to parents. Visits to friends and the like should also be taken care of with parents the day before, not during the after-school club.
Notifications
Matters concerning the after-school club will be communicated by email and bills will also be sent there electronically. So please ensure that your email address is correct and that we have it!
If you have any questions, you can contact the after-school club number or the person in charge of the after-school activity:
Tuomas MäkeläDevelopment Manager
