Wellbeing Plan 2026–2029 guides the promotion of wellbeing in Oulu
On May 18, 2026, the City Council approved the city of Oulu’s Wellbeing Plan for the years 2026–2029. The Plan guides the city’s and its partners’ cooperation in promoting wellbeing and health in Oulu for the duration of the council term and as part of the implementation of the City Strategy.
The vision of the Wellbeing Plan is Nordic Shine! in everyday life – a wellbeing, participating, and equal Oulu. According to the vision, everyone has the opportunity to live a good life in Oulu, at all stages of life.
Wellbeing is reinforced with communality and shared activities, safe everyday environments, active lifestyles, culture, competence, and supporting life-long learning. Oulu shines as a city of encounters – a place where participation, equality, and trust build good everyday lives.
Wellbeing covers the entire life cycle
The Wellbeing Plan compiles multiple previous programmes and forms a while that guides the promotion of wellbeing across sectors. The Plan considers four age groups, children and youth, young adults, working-aged people, and the elderly. Individual strategic goals and measures are set for each age group based on scientific facts and experiences of citizens.
Additionally, the Plan includes cross-cutting themes, such as integration, equality and non-discrimination, participation and interaction, safety, preventative substance work, and cultural wellbeing. These ensure that wellbeing work reaches all citizens and considers different life situations and needs.
Three focus areas guide the development
The Wellbeing Plan focuses on three central areas:
Communal and safe environments
Everyday life that supports wellbeing, health, and capacity
Effortless everyday life and early support.
In practice, this means that everyday environments are safe and accessible, people have the opportunities to participate and encounter one another, wellbeing and coping are reinforced in everyday lives, and support is offered early when life situations change and worries arise.
Wide cooperation and knowledge-based leadership support the implementation
The Wellbeing Plan was compiled in wide stakeholder cooperation. The work included almost 400 specialists or decision makers from the city organization, organizations, and other cooperation parties. Scientific research and up-to-date information about the experiences of citizens were utilized in the preparation to ensure that the Plan meets the everyday needs of citizens.
The implementation of the Plan is monitored and evaluated regularly as part of the city’s knowledge-based leadership. Wellbeing and health in Oulu are reported on to the City Board and City Council annually and once per council term in the wellbeing report.
The Council decided that the implementation is monitored with indicators that will be defined in the first annual report. The wellbeing effects of local nature will be included as measures in the next update.
Read the Wellbeing Plan 2026–2029
Further information:
Director of Wellbeing Promotion Pirjo Nikula, tel. 040 511 6188