Evening use of schools and early childhood education and care centres will be subject to self-management

Most evening use of Tampere’s schools and early childhood education and care centres has shifted to self-management. With this change, users are now more responsible than before for the safe and appropriate use of the facilities. For each usage slot, an adult must be designated as the person in charge, who is responsible for, among other things, the keys, keeping the facilities clean, and locking the building at the end of the slot.

Procedures related to self-management, such as key handover and signing agreements, will be handled centrally by Sports Services. Keys can be picked up and the self-management agreement signed at Nääshalli on Friday, August 7, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. or on Saturday, August 8, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For clubs and other user groups whose activities begin later in the fall, later key pickup times will also be arranged.

The goal is to streamline operations

The self-management model aims to streamline operations and make more efficient use of resources. Previously, staff spent a significant amount of time, for example, arranging changes to usage shifts and finding substitutes for various locations. Under the new model, operations are supported by rotating Coordinators who are responsible for overseeing self-management sites and providing support services.

In the early stages of the change, the biggest challenge may be getting used to the new practices. Many clubs and other users are accustomed to having staff present on the premises during evening hours. The key handover procedure is also changing, which may initially raise questions among users.

According to Janna-Carla Niemi, the rotating Coordinator, however, the implementation of the new operating model is being met with confidence.

“The new employees have taken to their roles well. There may be some isolated practical or technical challenges in the early stages, but I believe that once the issues related to keys and other procedures are sorted out, the model will start to work well. Right now, things are still a bit hectic and stressful, but once the initial hustle and bustle dies down, this will come together nicely.”