On 4 March 2025, Jong Noord submitted a response to the Nij Begun Social Agenda. We wrote it together with youth organisations from across the province. Municipalities and other public bodies could submit their own responses. We felt the youth sector deserved a voice of its own alongside them, so we took the initiative.
The Social Agenda aims to bring Groningen and northern Drenthe up to the national average within one generation, thirty years. It covers opportunities for children, health, quality of life, poverty and work. Many of its sixteen measures affect young people directly. We set the bar higher: in thirty years’ time, we want to be above that average.
How the response came about
On 13 and 20 November 2024, we brought together organisations from the youth sector, in varying combinations. We spoke separately with organisations that couldn’t attend. We wrote the response from all of that input.
We looked at the agenda as a whole and at each measure in turn. For all sixteen measures, we set out what we think of it and what we recommend. The result is a vision from the people who work with young people every day.
What we’re asking for
- Attention for young adults aged 16 to 30. This generation grew up with earthquakes and reinforcement work, and barely features in the agenda.
- Youth participation as a thread running through the whole agenda, with a goal of its own. For four measures, we ask for 10 per cent of the budget to be set aside for young people’s own ideas.
- A strong network of organisations, in every municipality and across the whole region. In Eemsdelta, the network café already shows how that works.
- Working from the intent: in every pathway, the young person comes first.
- Room for young people to help each other, paid and unpaid, for example as a buddy.
The organisations behind the response
The response is endorsed by Jong Noord, JongerenTop, 2BE, Jongerenwerk Barkema & De Haan, WerkPro, Team 050, Jimmy's, AfterBeat, GeWoon and PEERS. More organisations contributed than are named in the response, because the process moved quickly. They remain involved in what comes next as well.
Connecting the youth sector
Organisations in the youth sector often each work on their own island. Jong Noord wants to change that. We bring organisations and young people together, across municipal boundaries too. This response is one example. We’re building on the network that grew out of it, so the youth sector can work together on delivering the Social Agenda.