News item | 23-01-2025 | 17:24
Today quartermaster Henk Nijboer presented the social agenda for Groningen and North Drenthe. The plans in the agenda ensure a better life for residents of Groningen and North Drenthe. With more opportunities for children, less poverty and debt, good health and better quality of life.
Handover
Quartermaster Nijboer presented the social agenda to students from the Zuiderkroon child center in Hoogezand, the children’s mayor of Central Groningen Mara Staal, and to administrators from the national and regional authorities: Minister Eddy van Hijum (Social Affairs and Employment), State Secretary Eddie van Marum (Recovery of Groningen), deputy Susan Top (coordinating deputy Nij Begun) and mayor of Oldambt Cora-Yfke Sikkema (administrative leader of social agenda).
Together with residents and organizations
To develop the social agenda, the quartermaster spoke with hundreds of residents, organizations, volunteers, municipalities and experts. This is the social agenda of, for and by residents of Groningen and North Drenthe.
Sixteen measures, three foundations
The social agenda contains sixteen concrete measures. These measures are part of three foundations, namely:
- Stimulating community spirit and pride. For example, by supporting initiatives that are already being undertaken. Sports clubs, music clubs, volunteer organizations, residents and farmers play an important connecting role in this.
- Be there sooner. For example, by investing in the development of children by offering extra music or sports lessons at school. And attention is paid to mental health, at school, at the doctor’s office and in other places in the neighborhood.
- Tackling fundamental problems structurally. For example, through investments in reading and digital skills. And people with debts receive help from a personal counselor (buddies).
All sixteen measures of the social agenda can be read on the website nijbegun.nl.
Nij Begun
The social agenda is part of Nij Begun. After the parliamentary inquiry into gas extraction, the cabinet announced that it wanted to create a Nij Begun (new beginning) and offer Groningen and North Drenthe prospects again. The aim is to bring the broad prosperity in the region to the national average within one generation. Part of this approach is the social and economic agendas.
3.5 billion is available for the social agenda over a period of thirty years. In 2025, quartermaster Henk Nijboer and his team will start developing the implementation of the social agenda. The first measures will start in the course of 2025.