In our everyday lives in Denmark, it often happens that we cluster together with like-minded people and set up separate meeting places and communities. This can present a challenge to the overall cohesion of our society.
This applies for example to some areas of social housing, where it is rare for local people from outside these areas to make use of the common facilities.
To do something about this, several places have in recent years established so-called neighbourhood houses – meeting places that can open up a housing estate towards the rest of the neighbourhood.
Now, Realdania’s Future Neighbourhood House initiative means that municipalities and housing organisations can apply for funding to set up neighbourhood houses.
“Realdania’s major quality of life study has revealed that trust and relations with other people are among the most vital factors to our quality of life in Denmark. In Realdania, we see neighbourhood houses as a good opportunity to create meeting places that will be used both by residents of the housing estate and by people from the rest of the neighbourhood. Such meeting places can strengthen the local sense of community and cohesion,” says Ditte Marquard Jessen, Project Manager at Realdania.
At the same time as opening up for applications for funding, Realdania is publishing ‘The neighbourhood focal point – a handbook for creating neighbourhood houses in social housing areas’ . The handbook has been created in collaboration with Landsbyggefonden (The Danish Building Fund) and AlmenNet.
“As it turns out, establishing and operating a neighbourhood house can be difficult, because they place great demands on cooperation, organisation and architecture. For that reason, together with experts, key players and six pilot projects, we have created a handbook that sets out a roadmap for what it takes to get a neighbourhood house off to a good start,” says Ditte Marquard Jessen.
Info meeting for interested parties
Up to DKK 25 million may be applied for in funding, but it is a requirement that the Realdania funding must not comprise more than one-third of the total project sum.
You can read more about the requirements and how to apply here
From 2-3 pm on Wednesday 29 April, an online information meeting will be held at which you can hear more about the possibilities for obtaining funding, and ask any questions you might have.
Register for the information meeting here
It is expected that, through this pool, Realdania will be able to support the establishment of three to five neighbourhood houses.