EUKN - Netherlands - Between Green and Grey

Between Green and Grey

Introduction

Breda wants to raise awareness about developments such as the proportional decline of youth (“de-greening”) and the proportional increase of the elderly (“greying”). The development phase of the project must lead to a foundation for policy.

Problem

How can Breda put the growth of “de-greening” and “greying” in the spotlight?

Description

The population is ageing and the young people are leaving: the elderly are becoming an ever larger proportion of the population (“greying”) and the young are becoming an ever smaller proportion of the population (“de-greening”). This also has an impact on the labour force.

Brabant is a province that is ageing at a relatively rapid rate. For this reason, the 'Between Green and Grey' project was started in Breda in 2002. Breda wanted to raise awareness of developments such as the proportional decline of youth (“de-greening”) and the proportional increase of the elderly (“greying”). The aim of the project goes further, however. In view of the expected shift in the composition of the population, it is important that the process of “de-greening” and “greying” is on the municipal policy agenda, as a foundation for the corresponding policy cycle at the municipal/regional level.

Approach

In order to achieve the goal, two phases were distinguished: an awareness phase and a development phase. The awareness phase means that for a year long attention was focused on the demographic developments via various lines, with the exploration of possible outcomes as the central theme. The development phase started in 2003 and is meant to serve as a foundation for policy.

Results

Expo Meeting, Between Green and Grey:
The guests are managers and representatives from housing corporations, developers, employers and employees organisations, care institutions, cultural organisations, social organisations and officials. On the basis of background information, a film, exhibition and discussion, the visitors spent the afternoon delving into the subject.
Brainstorming sessions:
These sessions are oriented to policy advisers; policy advisers were asked on three occasions in a month’s time to think about possible future scenarios. While one’s own field of policy was focused on in regard to this, participants were also asked to consider, from a social perspective, the possible outcomes in a more integrated way.
CD-ROM:
An overview of phase 1 of the project is provided. In addition to the demographic development in Breda, among other things, the possible future scenarios and the results of the brainstorming sessions can be seen.

Contact info

Municipality of Breda
Mrs. P. Theuws, tel. +31 76 5294466

Project start date

01/01/2002

Links

Municipality of Breda

Document type

case

Themes

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

Keywords

Young people,