In Roden, a group of residents come together to think about how Noordenveld can become even more pleasant for people with an LGBTQIA+ background. The idea comes from the monthly Regenboogcafé in Trefpunt Scheepstra.
The initiative follows a study by Trendbureau Drenthe, which the café had carried out together with the municipality. This shows that Noordenveld is already quite inclusive, but that there are also points that can be improved.
The new working group must examine how the municipality can address these points of interest. This includes a multi-year agenda for Noordenveld as a Rainbow municipality, so that plans are tackled structurally.
The first consultation includes not only involved residents, but also a policy advisor from the municipality and a community worker from Welzijn in Noordenveld. “This way the ideas can be discussed immediately with people who can do something with them,” says Dirk Postma, one of the initiators.
The research by Trendbureau Drenthe shows that attention is especially needed for young people at school and elderly people who feel lonely. There are also transgender people who say they are not referred to appropriate care. The working group will look together at how these topics can be addressed better.
The Regenboogcafé emphasizes that the intention is not only to form a support group with the initiative. Residents’ ideas must actually be shaped into policy and actions. In this way, the initiators want Noordenveld to become an even more inclusive municipality step by step.
Residents who want to think along can contact Dirk Postma of the Regenboogcafé. An initial consultation is then planned, in which everyone can contribute their ideas. The Regenboogcafé itself also remains open every second Wednesday of the month.
