English meeting information

The Hope for Today Group meets on Wednesdays at 18.30-20.00 in the Palvelukeskus at Kamppi.
The meeting room Ilona is situated on the groundfloor, to your right, past the reception and toilets. (NOT the restaurant Ilona). Our group is small and growing.

Why an English speaking meeting in Finland?
Some of us have started our recovery in English speaking meetings abroad. Apart from English being our 'recovery language' we would like a meeting to be there for those who need Al-Anon and are unable to speak Finnish or Swedish.

Whatever your background, whether you are visiting or living in Helsinki, whether you are new to the program or an old-timer, whether you want or need to use English as a language of recovery, our primary purpose is to help those who have been affected by someone else's drinking and we warmly welcome you.

Our group follows the meeting format as it is suggested by Al-Anon Conference. We start the meeting with the Serenity prayer, read the Preamble, the 12 Steps & Traditions and end with the suggested closing and the serenity prayer. We don't register names.

We have different topics each week:
1st week of the month: Step
2nd week of the month: Topic
3rd week of the month: Tradition
4th week of the month: Slogan/Enabling behaviour
5th week of the month: The group chooses a topic

On the last Wednesday of the month we also have a Business meeting/Group Conscience, where we discuss and make decisons re. the running of the meeting.

English language Conference Approved Literature is available for sale.

Our meeting is a safe place where everybody can share without cross-talk (i. e. no interrupting, commenting, advice giving, blaming or judging). Al-Anon is an anonymous fellowship. Our respect for the program and for each other extends to the time after the meeting, as it is stated on the 'yellow card':
'Who you see here, what you hear here, when you leave here, let it stay here.' and in the suggested closing:
'....but let there be no gossip or criticism of one another. Instead, let the understanding love and peace of the program grow in you one day at a time.'
Welcome!