The project is aimed at actively preparing at-risk young people for a programme leading into work or a return to schooling. Participation in the project reduces the risk that a person will slide (further) into crime. The young people will experience maximum participation in social interaction, and start to look to the future again. A total of 100 young people will participate in a tailor-made programme. The programmes last twelve months. After completing the programme, the participants will receive six months of aftercare.

The target group for the project is vulnerable and is very alienated from the labour market. The objective which the city council and the province have set it that by participating in the project, these young people become more engaged with society.

The joint project "Activities for at-risk young people in contact with the police and the justice system" is being launched as part of the Youth and Safety Policy of Utrecht City Council and the Social Agenda of the Province of Utrecht. The project is being launched as a pilot with a term of two years. The city council and province are anticipating around 50 activity programmes per year. The intention is that if there are adequate funds and the project runs successfully, it will be included as a standard provision.

Of the participants in the project, 60% are expected to move on to education and/or the labour market. Of the other participants, a neutral result is expected with 20% and a negative result with 20%. This means that these young people either cannot be engaged more effectively with society, or do not complete the project. These outflow results will lead to improved social participation by the participants and also greater social cohesion in Utrecht Westflank.

European subsidy: € 600.000
Total cost: € 1.599.736

This project has been partially funded with Objective 2 funds. Since 2000 nine cities have been eligible for the Objective 2 Urban Areas in the Netherlands programme, which forms part of the European Fund for Regional Development (EFRD) of the European Union. EFRD is one of the four Structural Funds of the European Commission. The programme helps cities to carry out projects that benefit disadvantaged areas.

In the Netherlands, total European Objective 2 subsidies concern 192 million euros. 4.25% of the Dutch population lives in the selected areas.

The European Commission prescribes that for every euro from the EFRD, a minimum of one euro must be contributed from the government. The cities must therefore add their own public or private funding to the European subsidy. The European programme is linked to the urban plans agreed within the context of the urban policy of the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations. For this, the cities can make use of funds that have been allocated to them in the context of the national urban policy.

Utrecht Westflank - local programme management
Phone: +31 30 2861603

01/10/2004

case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Integration of social groups

Young people