News item | 08-12-2023 | 13:18
In the period 2023-2025, approximately €256 million is available from the Promising Neighborhood scheme for the 20 vulnerable areas linked to the National Liveability and Safety Program (NPLV).
“In this scheme, four ministries (OCW, SZW, VWS and BZK) have bundled the money flows. This makes it easier for municipalities to rely on it,” said Minister Hugo de Jonge of the Interior and Kingdom Relations (BZK).
The money is intended for the prevention of poverty and debt, resilience and resilience, reintegration, school and environment, the development of the young child, a healthy living environment and for program support. Before the end of the year, approximately €53 million will go to the municipalities involved.
Four ministries, one flow of money
“With this scheme, the government has taken a first meaningful step towards a (more) bundled and long-term deployment of financial resources in 20 vulnerable areas,” Minister Hugo de Jonge wrote in a letter to the House of Representatives.
The mayors involved in the 20 areas previously insisted on one bundled flow of money from the government for less bureaucracy and to ensure a more coherent approach in multiple areas of life.
Specific Benefit for a Promising Neighborhood
With the Specific Benefit (SPUK) Promising Neighborhood the ministries involved want to support the 20 areas of the NPLV. This areas, spread across the Netherlands, face multiple problems in the areas of housing, education, poverty, safety and health. With this benefit they can invest in, for example, training energy fixers to combat energy poverty, deploy additional teachers to reduce educational disadvantages and make plans for a healthier living environment.
Municipalities in the NPLV areas appreciate the integrated approach of the SPUK scheme.
Like this responded Chris Schaapman, director of the National Program The Hague Southwest, previously: “The problems of residents – and more importantly: the solutions – cannot be divided with scissors along the lines of the ministries. They require a long-term and integrated approach and budget. The scheme for promising neighborhoods is an important step in the right direction.”
More structural form of financing
The government has agreed a long-term commitment with the NPLV municipalities for the implementation of the local plans. Long-term certainty about the financial commitment of the government provides continuity and allows local parties to better plan and coordinate implementation.
What, among other things, has the SPUK Promising Neighborhood been awarded in the NPLV areas?
Prevention of poverty and debt
Breda North
Breda Noord is working on increasing the financial resilience of both youth and parents. For example, Breda Noord will deploy ambassadors to share their own experiences. The message: financial problems can be solved and poverty can be broken. The ambassadors refer residents with financial problems to help and advice. Breda also uses the SPUK to prevent the development of individual financial worries, poverty and debts.
Utrecht Overvecht
For the theme of Young Child Development, Utrecht Overvecht will use money from the SPUK to support mothers, among other things. The mothers receive training in parenting skills in which they also learn from each other. This gives them a stronger position, allowing them to properly stimulate their child’s development.
Resilience and resilience
Arnhem East uses the SPUK, among other things, to: Youth Cyber Team (YCT) to strengthen and expand. The YCT focuses on strengthening digital resilience and positive identity development. 20 young people receive training in which they learn about the dangers of, among other things, online radicalization, fake news and subversive crime. These young people then work as role models in the Presikhaaf and Malburgen districts.
Reintegration
Heerlen Noord is working on a development process within the framework of the Bovengrondse Vakschool. Candidates perform work on location at an employer and are offered an employment contract, initially through the social development company. Within the process, work is being done on certification by a trainer. After one year, the candidate will be employed by the employer by mutual consent. If successful, the approach will be expanded to other employers and sectors.
Integral
Groningen North uses the integrated budget from the SPUK on activities to help more people find paid work (reintegration and prevention of poverty and debt). They intensify their work with neighborhood companies, which carry out activities aimed at activation, participation, training and work. They also provide individual coaching for people and families in poverty by experienced buddies. The coaching is aimed at removing stress and creating perspective.