The ‘shopping bag’
Helsinki
Detailed description of the Good Practice
In 1999, the need to boost the efficiency of home care for the elderly led to the start of the Kauppakassi (shopping bag) project as part of the Urban I community initiative in the eastern suburbs of Helsinki. The social services department and
local partners, the ‘Helykoti’ association for services for the elderly, and two shopkeepers worked closely together for two years in developing an innovative shopping model. Under this system, the two shopkeepers prepare the orders in the morning before opening the shops, the Helykoti staff then arriving to pick up the produce ordered for home delivery using an electrically powered vehicle. An external evaluation confirmed that all the parties have benefited from the system. The ‘shopping bag’ reduces home care costs and makes life easier for the ageing female staff . At the same time, the shopkeepers receive a significant new clientele, the customers are pleased, transportation distances are reduced to a minimum and the silent, non-polluting mode of transport used is ideal for residential areas. The service has since been extended to other areas.
sustainable consumption
transport
quality of life
Objectives of the Good Practice
to create an innovative shopping model convenient for social care staff and shopkeepers
Participants of the Good Practice
Local authorities
Social care staff
Shopkeepers
Target group of the Good Practice
Social care staff
Shopkeepers
Funding of the Good Practice
Local authorities
European Union
More Details of the Good Practice
Available files
Contact details
Eeva-Liisa Broman, project leader, URBAN II Helsinki
eeva-liisa.broman@hel.fi
www.urbanfi nland.info
Data sources and references
Inforegio Panorama
Transport, a driving force for regional development
- 18 12/2005
