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Selwerd District Company

In the district of Selwerd in Groningen, various innovative initiatives are underway aimed at the district’s social and physical renewal. The Selwerd District Company takes on a special role in this respect by focusing on care in the broad sense of the word. The District Company stands for an approach to care provided by and for the district’s residents.

It has operated as a project agency for the district since 2014. The District Company strives to make the residents of the district the protagonists of the social and physical renewal of Selwerd. Via the 'Right to Challenge', citizens and associations have the right to ask the government to enable them to take responsibility for a certain public task in exchange for an operating budget. Facilitated by the District Company, residents of Selwerd have taken control of certain aspects of Groningen's services. As a result, the District Company contributes to the district’s social development, as well as to the development and possibilities of individual residents. As a result, residents can influence the further development of their living environment. The financial gains of the District Company are reinvested in the district and thus return to the residents in the form of social gains.

The District Company operates from the community centre, an empty school building, managed by the residents. The community centre is a breeding ground for local start-up initiatives, which are always established according to the principle of the 'right to challenge'. There are currently around 25 neighbourhood initiatives that create added value for the district. For example, there is a neighbourhood restaurant, a PC workshop, a neighbourhood concierge and a neighbourhood taxi, and entrepreneurial Selwerd that offers new entrepreneurs or those just starting out, facilities for work, meetings and workshops.

The District Company demonstrates a proactive approach to care in the district, exerting an impact both at a structural level and in the daily living environment of Selwerd’s residents. The District Company creates local employment for residents who are distanced from the regular labour market. In addition, it works with the housing cooperative so that residents have greater control of the management of the homes. The District Company has also established a partnership with the care institution in order to offer services to the neighbourhood in a coordinated manner, either in addition to or instead of existing services. Finally, the old school building has become a cosy meeting place, where highly diverse groups of all ages and cultures feel at home.

partners and actors
Municipality of Groningen, residents of Selwerd
theme
housing, care, management, learning, community
innovative aspects
organisational form, cultural change, policy innovation, good citizenship, ownership
scale
district, municipality


slideshow
Selwerd District Company in the spotlight
The District Company operates from a former school building that the residents manage themselves. From here, the District Company and other neighbourhood initiatives offer a wide range of activities and services.

The community centre of Selwerd District Company, Groningen
The community centre of Selwerd District Company, Groningen
© Wijkbedrijf Selwerd, Groningen
Selwerd District Company
videoSelwerd District Company
The District Company is a company by and for residents of the Selwerd district. The district company focuses on improving residents' quality of life.


Selwerd District Company

The District Company is a company by and for residents of the Selwerd district. The district company focuses on improving residents' quality of life.



photo: Wijkbedrijf Selwerd, Groningen 2015

GoudGroen episode 1
videoGoudGroen episode 1
Themes such as greening and desealing, energy saving and sustainable food are key to the work of the District Company. For example, the District Company has a working group that takes care of residents' front gardens in order to provide more greenery.


GoudGroen episode 1

Themes such as greening and desealing, energy saving and sustainable food are key to the work of the District Company. For example, the District Company has a working group that takes care of residents' front gardens in order to provide more greenery.



photo: Jeen de Vos Producties, Groningen 2018