HelsinkiMissio Sörnäinen is an open and community-driven meeting place in Helsinki where anyone can come as they are. It offers a space to connect with others and be part of a community. In addition, free-of-charge conversational support is available from professionals, along with walk-in support from trained volunteers.
INTO Concept donated premises POD 2 -room for quiet and confidential discussions. The soundproof space allows private conversations to be kept within the space, while the rest of the room is free to be used for group activities, crafts or free lounging, for example.
”We have been very satisfied with the solution. We've had feedback from our customers about how well the POD room is soundproofed, creating a strong sense of safety when addressing sensitive and challenging topics together.”, says Lotta Hurmerinta, a conversation aid professional.
The POD 2 space was furnished with POINT sofasand height-adjustable TOP-table and also wheelchair ramp was added allowing unobstructed access. Despite its compact size, the space adapts to different needs, which has been important in daily use.
”The space has been used both for individual conversations and for working with pairs, so the portability of the furniture has been very practical. Moving the furniture around allows for a versatile use of the space.”, Lotta continues.
Workers have also been satisfied with the ventilation in the POD room: ”The ventilation has worked really well. We have been using the space continuously, with one client coming in right after another, and the space still didn’t feel stuffy or lacking oxygen.”
In addition to discussion support, staff have used the space for individual work.
”I would definitely recommend POD 2 to others. It allows us to offer personalised discussion support, use the space in a variety of ways and generally do this kind of work here.”, says Melanie Shametaj, a conversation help professional.
At INTO, we are very happy to be involved in such a meaningful project that enables real encounters and lowers the threshold for seeking help.
