The Time Out activity coordinated by the Ministry of Education and Culture is a support service intended for all young men of draft age and men and women of conscription and civilian service age, where the young person receives their own designated counselor, support in clarifying their life situation, help in finding the best solutions, and information and guidance to various services. The counselors are professionals who have been introduced to the operating model and offer the young person the opportunity to assess their own life situation and action options with a low threshold. Outreach youth work implements the Time Out activity based on cooperation between the Defence Forces, the Civil Service Centre, the State Treasury and municipalities as part of its basic work and is responsible for the activities in all Finnish municipalities.

Close-up of searching youth workersThe activity is always confidential, voluntary and free of charge and can be applied for before, during, or after service.

 

 

How does overtime work? Youth workers who are looking for volunteers participate in conscription events organized by the Defence Forces and meet all young men who are eligible for conscription. During the conscriptions, everyone is offered the opportunity to discuss confidentially the issues that concern them. Discussions can be continued in meetings outside of conscriptions if the young person so wishes. No matter is too small or too big to think about together. The volunteers help young people prepare for service as well as with other issues that are important to them.

What if military or civilian service is interrupted? The social curators of the military departments and the civilian service center report the contact details of those who interrupt their service to the youth work in the young person's home municipality. The youth workers who search are in contact with the young person, help in the new situation according to the young person's wishes, and if necessary, refer them to the most suitable services. The young person can also refuse the Time Extension if they wish, without any consequences for them.

Outreach youth work supports young people at a time and in a way that they see fit. The outreach youth worker is a companion who helps you figure out how to take the next step. The activity is always confidential, voluntary and free of charge. All young people under the age of 29 and their loved ones can also contact the outreach youth work in their home municipality at any time with questions related to the Aikalisä activity.

Overtime activities in Kankaanpää

Find your municipality looking for Timeout activities

intti.fi/invitations

Make a contact request to the youth work team looking for the young person's home municipality.

Lieutenant Colonel Petteri Iitti, investigative youth worker Noora Kuuskoski and Major Antti Seppä.
In 2021, Kankaanpää regional youth worker Noora Kuuskoski was the only one in Finland to receive the National Defense Medal for her work with young people through the Overtime Program. In the photo are Lieutenant Colonel Petteri Iitti, youth worker Noora Kuuskoski and Major Antti Seppä.

The timeout model in a nutshell

According to the operating model, municipalities are looking for youth workers

  • participate in the autumn convocations at each convocation location: the activities are presented at the convocation information and the young people are met at the Time-Out Point. National Time-Out materials are used to present the activities. The young people come to the Time-Out Point after the convocation committee.
  • are participating in inspections (AJTs) organized by the regional offices of the Defence Forces to meet young people.
  • are already involved in pre-conscription health checks in many locations.
  • receive the Youth Act (1285/2016, Section 11) reports on young people who interrupt their military or civilian service.
  • offer all young people the opportunity for guidance and support before, during and after service, as well as when service is interrupted.