Vuolle Setlementti

What Vuolle Setlementti does

Vuolle Setlementti ry is a Finnish registered nonprofit association (rekisteröity yhdistys) founded in 1944 in Oulu, providing a comprehensive portfolio of civic education, social welfare, and community services across Northern Finland. The organization operates through two primary divisions: Vuolle-opisto, an adult education institute offering citizens' college courses (languages, arts, music, movement, digital skills), open university studies, and immigrant education; and Hyvinvointipalvelut (Wellbeing Services), which encompasses youth services (Poikien Talo for boys, Tyttöjen Talo for girls, and the Porstua anti-bullying program), senior services (Seniorikeskus, AVEK friendship program), crime victim support (RIKU Pohjois-Suomi covering 38 municipalities), statutory mediation services, violence prevention (Aggredi Pohjois-Suomi), multicultural work (Ystävyyskeskus with ~5,000 annual participants), and a regional volunteer coordination network (VARES, 350+ active volunteers). The organization serves all age cohorts from children to seniors across the Oulu region and Pohjois-Pohjanmaa.

The business model is predominantly government-funded through four tiers: national agency grants (STEA), ministerial contracts (Ministry of Justice for RIKU), regional welfare authority contracts (Pohjois-Pohjanmaa hyvinvointialue), and municipal contracts (City of Oulu). Course fees from civic education provide secondary revenue, while donations and the Kandela therapy subsidiary (a 2020 joint venture with Setlementti Tampere and Loisto setlementti) contribute additional streams. The organization holds statutory mandates for mediation services (since 2006) and operates the regional RIKU crime victim support office (since 2008), providing revenue stability through government-mandated contracts. Technology infrastructure is limited to standard web platforms including opistopalvelut.fi for course registration (handling ~82% of enrollments online), a 360-degree virtual tour, and conventional social media presence across five platforms — no proprietary technology or AI capabilities are disclosed. Vuolle operates from the €8 million Vuolle-talo facility completed in Heinäpää in December 2021, supplemented by dedicated premises for youth services, mediation, and the historic Hailuoto branch.

Name

Vuolle Setlementti

Legal name

Vuolle Setlementti ry

Website

https://vuolleoulu.fi

Company type

Private

Founded year

1944

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Vuolle Setlementti ry is a Finnish nonprofit founded in 1944 in Oulu, providing civic education courses, senior and youth services, crime victim support, mediation, multicultural programs, and volunteer coordination across the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa region, primarily funded through government and municipal contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Oulu

HQ country

Finland

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Municipal Contracts: The primary revenue source consists of government grants (STEA / RAY funding for social and welfare projects), municipal contracts (Oulu city, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa hyvinvointialue), and statutory service agreements (e.g., Rikosuhripäivystys funded by the Ministry of Justice, mediation mandated by law since 2006). These fund the bulk of social services, youth work, senior services, crime-victim services, and integration programs.
2. Course Fees (Kansalaisopisto): Vuolle-opisto charges course fees for civic education (kansalaisopisto) courses. A Senior Exercise universal fee (SYM-65) provides discounted access to seniors aged 65+. Approximately 82% of course registrations are completed online. Some courses are free; youth and immigrant integration courses are largely subsidized.
3. Subsidiary Revenue — Kandela Therapy: Kandela, a therapy and workplace services company founded in 2020 as a joint venture of three Finnish settlement organizations (including Vuolle Setlementti), generates revenue from psychotherapy and workplace wellness services. Kandela operates under contracts with Kela (Finnish Social Insurance) and the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa welfare area. Revenue supports the broader settlement mission.
4. Donations: The organization runs a donation program (Lahjoita / donation fund) to support its social mission activities. Donations are used to fund welfare services, volunteer programs, and community initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

No detailed information about the company's core offerings is evidenced in the input beyond its name, Vuolle Setlementti.

Product overview

Vuolle Setlementti is a civic association founded in 1944 offering a comprehensive portfolio of educational and wellbeing services across Oulu. The organization operates as a multi-service provider with two main divisions: Vuolle-opisto (Adult Education Institute) providing citizens' college courses, open university studies, and immigrant education programs; and Hyvinvointipalvelut (Wellbeing Services) encompassing youth work (Poikien Talo, Tyttöjen Talo), senior services (Seniorikeskus, AVEK), crime victim support (RIKU), mediation (Sovittelu), violence prevention (Aggredi, Porstua), multicultural work (Ystävyyskeskus), and volunteer coordination (VARES). The subsidiary Kandela provides therapy and workplace services. The organization serves all ages from children to seniors, with a mission focused on community wellbeing and social inclusion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kandela: Therapy and workplace services company offering therapeutic support to youth, adults, and families. Founded in 2020 as joint venture between Vuolle Setlementti, Settlements Tampere, and Loisto setlementti. Operates in Oulu, Helsinki, and Tampere.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36% of surveyed Oulu youth (12-29) report frequent loneliness; 19% have no close friends — indicating a significant social isolation problem that Vuolle addresses through youth houses, senior services, and community programs.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kandela (Therapy and Workplace Services)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Kandela is a therapy and workplace services company founded in 2020 by three Finnish settlement organizations: Vuolle Setlementti, Setlementti Tampere, and Loisto setlementti. The company provides psychotherapy and workplace wellness services across Finland (Oulu, Helsinki, Tampere), with Oulu operations managed by Vuolle Palvelut Oy. All profits are reinvested into settlement work. Kandela operates under Kela contracts and is a provider for Pohjois-Pohjanmaa hyvinvointialue.
• Suomen Setlementtiliitto (Finnish Settlement Union)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational umbrella organization for settlement organizations in Finland. Vuolle Setlementti is a member (joined 1955 as the 22nd settlement). The union coordinates national campaigns including Naapuruusviikko, organizes annual Setlementtipäivät (Settlements Days), and provides advocacy, development support, and network coordination for member settlements.
• Pohjois-Pohjanmaan hyvinvointialue (Pohjois-Pohjanmaa Welfare Area)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional government authority that funds and commissions social and health services in the Pohjois-Pohjanmaa region. Provides organizational funding grants to Vuolle Setlementti for AVEK friendship services, senior welfare programs, integration services, and community development. The welfare area covers 38 municipalities and ~480,000 residents.
• Oulun kaupunki (City of Oulu)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe City of Oulu is a primary municipal partner and funder for Vuolle's youth services, senior services, crime victim support, mediation, and multicultural programs. The city coordinates anti-bullying initiatives (including the Porstua pilot) and provides grants and service agreements. The city awarded Vuolle its Gender Equality and Equity Award in January 2025.
• Aggredi-verkosto (Aggredi Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational violence prevention network operating in Helsinki, Kuopio, and Oulu (as Aggredi Pohjois-Suomi). Via Vis (est. 2012) became Aggredi Pohjois-Suomi in 2023 upon joining the Aggredi network. The network provides a framework for working with individuals who use violence and for violence prevention, sharing best practices across cities. Aggredi operates nationally in Finland.
• Caritas-Säätiö and ODL (Oulun Diakoniatyö)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinating partners in the Löydetään yhdessä! (Find Together!) project together with Vuolle Setlementti. The project, funded by STEA, aims to reduce loneliness among home-dwelling elderly residents aged 65+ in Oulu through outreach social work.
• Oulun kaupunginkirjasto (Oulu City Library)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Naapuruusviikko (Neighbourhood Week) and other community events. Library locations across Oulu (Saari, Karjasilta, Ritaharju, Myllyoja, Kaakkuri, Kaukovainio, Kiiminki, Hiukkavaara, Maikkula, Tuira) serve as community engagement points during neighbourhood week campaigns.
• Oulun Energia (Oulu Energy)minorOthersOulu Energy selected children's science camps (Onni-tiedeleiri) as its 2026 sustainability project. Onni district heating customers voted to fund the science camps at Vuolle. Oulu Energy's CEO and team visited the first camp session in summer 2026.
• Lapti-rakennusliike (Lapti Construction)minorOthersConstruction company that built the Vuolle-talo in Heinäpää, completed in December 2021. The building project had a budget of approximately €8 million, fully funded by Vuolle Setlementti.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Folkhälsan rf: Large Finnish-Swedish social and health NGO operating nationally with comparable portfolio of senior services, health promotion, civic education, and volunteer programs. Broader incumbent with similar nonprofit welfare delivery model.
• Suomen Setlementtiliitto (Finnish Settlement Union): National umbrella organization for all Finnish settlements; Vuolle is a member since 1955. Coordinates national campaigns (Naapuruusviikko, Setlementtipäivät), advocacy, and shared service development across the broader settlement network.
• Suomen Punainen Risti (Finnish Red Cross): Largest humanitarian NGO in Finland providing social support, immigrant integration, youth programs, and volunteer coordination. Comparable as a major third-sector welfare provider competing for similar municipal, STEA, and volunteer resources nationally.
• Rikosuhripäivystys (RIKU) - Valtakunnallinen tuki: National parent organization of Vuolle's RIKU Pohjois-Suomi regional office. Crime victim support nationwide with Ministry of Justice funding; comparable service model via regional offices and similar funding structure.
• MIELI Suomen Mielenterveys ry: Finnish mental health NGO with national crisis support, peer support, and wellbeing services. Comparable as a large third-sector welfare provider with STEA funding, volunteer programs, and statutory service contracts; broader scope but similar nonprofit operating model.

Direct peers

• Loisto Setlementti ry: Finnish settlement organization and the third JV partner in Kandela. Provides comparable settlement-based social services and civic education, with overlapping service portfolio including youth work and wellbeing programs, making it a direct comparable in mission and structure.
• Helsingin Setlementti ry (Helsinki Settlement): Largest Finnish settlement organization, providing citizens' college (Helsingin työväenopisto / Arbis), youth services, senior work, and multicultural programs. Direct peer in settlement movement with national-scale reach and similar service breadth.
• Setlementti Tampere: Finnish settlement organization based in Tampere, co-owner of Kandela together with Vuolle Setlementti. Offers analogous civic education, youth, senior, and multicultural services through Tampereen kansalaisopisto and wellbeing divisions, making it the closest operational peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@vuollesetlementti6769
• Facebookfacebook.com/vuolleopisto
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vuollesetlementti
• Instagraminstagram.com/vuolleoulu
• TikToktiktok.com/@vuolleoulu?lang=fi-FI

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vuolle Setlementti