As a guiding force for people of all ages, OP Pohjola has a long tradition of supporting Finnish sports and physical activity—from recreational enthusiasts to top athletes. The foundation of this work lies in getting children and young people moving, and the joy of exercise can often be found, for example, in a Hippo Orienteering School.
For decades, OP Pohjola has worked together with clubs, communities, and sports federations to ensure that mental and physical well-being is accessible to everyone, everywhere in Finland. The annual support of more than seven million euros for sports and physical activity is directed not only toward elite sports and youth sports, but also toward major sporting events and everyday hobby activities for people of all ages. It is fair to say that OP Pohjola serves as a coach and mentor for the whole nation.
One example of cooperation with sports federations is the Hippo Orienteering Schools, run by more than 70 orienteering clubs in collaboration with local cooperative banks across Finland. Each year, about 5,000 children participate. Last spring, more than 60 Hippo Family Adventure events were held for the first time, where roughly 3,600 children and their families got to try orienteering. This summer, children visiting the Kotka-Jukola event area can explore the Hippo Family Adventure stamping course, map symbol game, and mystery orienteering.
Energy and Community from the Jukola Forests to the Workday
Orienteering also has a long-standing tradition among OP Pohjola employees. As early as the 1970s, the organisation held its own orienteering championships, which later became part of the staff association’s summer events and remained on the programme until the early 2000s. The orienteering tradition is still going strong, and today several Jukola and Venla relay teams made up of OP Pohjola employees participate in the event every year.
Employees are encouraged to stay active throughout the year, and preparing for Jukola has become a shared hobby for many—practised together in local work teams or through remote coaching. Training and participating in competitions together strengthens a sense of community, creates new connections across team boundaries, and adds joy and movement to everyday life. When Finland keeps moving, everything else falls into place. At OP Pohjola, there is a firm belief in the joy and power of movement—and in its ability to build a more hopeful future.
Responsible Actions Close to Home
Promoting local well-being and vitality is a key part of OP Southeast Finland’s sustainability work. Each year, owner-customers can express their wishes in the Deeds of a Lifetime survey, suggesting what good deeds they would like the bank to carry out.
Last year, the bank supported hobby activities for 16,000 children and young people, enabled summer jobs for 200 youths in local associations, and donated 200,000 euros to non-profit organisations as well as 285,000 euros to support education in the region. The bank also maintains numerous partnerships with local sports and cultural events. These collaborations strengthen regional vitality and offer benefits to owner-customers.
“Through our partnership with the Jukola Relay, we bring together the cooperation with sports clubs, the joy of movement, and the vitality that a major event brings to the region,” summarises Vesa Surakka, Sponsorship and Partnership Manager at OP Southeast Finland.