Unlike many other provinces, Drenthe has chosen to pursue its own social policy, so a new social agenda is in the making. This social policy focuses on four themes: sustainability, social security, health and inclusion and diversity.
Our own social policy does not stand alone, it must soon ‘seep through’ into much of the other work that the province does. And residents’ initiatives and village cooperatives especially need to be better supported.
The social agenda focuses explicitly on a number of larger challenges: equality of opportunity, reducing poverty, health, inclusion and residents’ initiatives for strengthening villages and neighborhoods. Objective: contribute to broad prosperity for all residents. It should all be less in projects and more in programmatic form for the long term, often also as part of other provincial policy. And from the bottom up with ‘experts by experience.’
Deputy Yvonne Turenhout (PvdA): “The residents are central to policy and implementation. Ultimately, we want to make a difference in their lives.”
Resident initiatives must be better supported, because according to Turenhout they are “unaffordable.” The deputy praises initiatives such as Hollandscheveld Verbindt, Grolloo Zorgt, the Borgstee in Vledder and the Good Start project in the Veenkoloniën, where mothers and expectant parents receive help to give their children a good start in their first thousand days of life. This better support must come with money and other support. For example, because the province helps to make smart combinations between volunteer work and residents’ initiatives.
Insecurity is growing in Drenthe. For many residents, the balance between income and expenditure is lost due to rising prices for energy, groceries and housing. But they also have insufficient income security and uncertainty surrounding their work and participation in society. Municipalities therefore want to come up with a strategic plan together with the government and other partners to prevent people from going from crisis to crisis.
Turenhout points out, among other things, the ‘double aging’. “A disaster,” she says. “But many of these vital elderly people have a lot of skills and knowledge. That is gold for a village or organization that is looking for volunteers.” Double aging means that within the group of people over 65, the proportion of people over 80 is increasing. In Drenthe there is actually a triple aging population because the number of young people (in their twenties) is decreasing.
Drenthe has relatively many vulnerable groups and social problems appear to be increasing. Such as vulnerable young people with a greater learning deficit, residents who have become socially isolated or people on longer waiting lists for medical or psychological care.
Turenhout also hopes to find out how the increasing demand for care can be met. as well as its affordability. According to Turenhout, Drenthe and Groningen are one of the few provinces that still have their own social agenda. Social policy in provinces disappeared completely or almost completely when the government threw the implementation of the Social Support Act (Wmo) and youth care on the shoulders of municipalities years ago.
According to Turenhout, the provinces sit at the table with the government so often that problems that municipalities encounter can be brought to attention more quickly and adjustments can be made. Or to lobby the government or the EU for a better approach to Drenthe’s problems and to ensure that the results of the many residents’ initiatives penetrate The Hague.
Moreover, joint provincial government programs such as the South and East Drenthe Regional Deal include many matters that have a social, welfare or health component. Consider longer learning or lifelong learning for more opportunities on the labor market. Or live a healthier life so that you will need less care later. “These are processes that must be supported socially and economically for generations to ultimately achieve broader prosperity and equal opportunities for everyone,” says Turenhout.
Southeast Drenthe has relatively high (youth) unemployment, a low average level of education, a high share of low-literate people and many (long-term) low incomes. And of course, combating poverty is also a theme in the new social agenda.
