Village points, investing in warm and caring neighbourhoods
A Village Point is a place where residents can meet and find missing former services. The Village Point is run by people with disabilities. With the Village Point, we want to connect people and invest in a warm and caring neighbourhood. We do this by moving towards a new care system in which we do our own connecting and innovative business with the local community as the driving force and with a focus on people with increased vulnerability. Today, there are 5 Village Points in the Westhoek.
It refers to other types of transformations (soft investment)
Yes
EAFRD : European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
In December 2020, the Leader dossier 'Expanding and strengthening the operation of Village Point in Beveren through new village points in Krombeke,
Stavele and Pervijze' was approved. With this dossier, on the one hand, we further deepened the methodology of the operation of teh Village Point in Beveren by giving more people with disabilities the opportunity to take up a role as an employee in the village points. We appointed a coach who worked across the village points and supported employees in learning new tasks. This file was approved by the Flemish Land Agency (VLM) and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
No
Yes
2022-09-24
As a representative of an organisation
Name of the organisation(s): De Lovie vzw Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Eva Last name of representative: Bouve Gender: Female Nationality: Belgium If relevant, please select your other nationality: Belgium Function: Staff member Communication Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Krombeekseweg 82 Town: Poperinge Postal code: 8970 Country: Belgium Direct Tel:+32 473 55 01 97 E-mail:eva.bouve@delovie.be Website:https://delovie.be
The Lovie asbl started the Village Point in Beveren-aan-de-IJzer in 2017. A rural village with an elderly population where both the bakery, butcher and grocery shop had disappeared. The closest nearby town with a supermarket was Poperinge 15 kilometres away, followed by Veurne at 18 kilometres. The rural villages in the Westhoek have been struggling with the same mobility problems for many years: there are few public alternatives to the private car, which leads to transport poverty, social cohesion crumbles, there is loneliness and the quality of life declines as services and shops disappear from the villages. In a disused catering business, which had been empty for several years, De Lovie vzw started a Village Point operated by people with disabilities. Our employees, persons with increased vulnerability, are encouraged to develop and strengthen their talents. The building was refurbished and converted into a cosy meeting point that is committed to 3 main pillars:
1. Neighbourhood shop with a special focus on short-chain agricultural products: fruit and vegetables, dairy and meat products. You can also get or order bread and pastries there.
2. Meeting place with social function: You can drop in for a chat over coffee, whether or not linked to a particular request for customised services such as helping with collecting glass, cutting the grass or taking out the rubbish.
3. Hub for mobility: You can meet there to carpool, borrow a cargo bike, rent an e-bike or get your bike repaired.
Thanks to the positive experiences of staff and residents, the concept was also launched in other remote settlements at the request of other local authorities: Stavele (March 2021), Krombeke (February 2021), Pervijze (October 2021) and Zandvoorde (September 2022). The Village Points are always set up in empty premises. The Village Points are not copies of each other. Each Village Point always takes into account the uniqueness of the village, the needs and
Connection
Reviving the neighbourhood
Local
Equality
Talents
By deliberately keeping all initiatives local we are committed to systematically reducing the use of energy and resources. We provide a platform for local farmers and producers to sell their products. Raw materials travel preferably as few kilometres as possible from their place of growth or production to the Village Point. We try to recycle as much food waste as possible. We look for people in the neighbourhood with animals that are happy with food scraps. We use the eggs of the chickens to bake goodies. We process fruit and vegetables that no longer look fresh for sale into pastries. We reuse carrier bags made of recycled materials as much as possible (fruit nets) and gift wrapping is made from used cans, fabric and leftover wood. We are a swap point for plant cuttings, books and gifts. We offer equal access to information by providing a newspaper and books. Residents come on foot or by bike.
Thanks to the Village Points, our staff learns new skills, fulfills needs of grateful residents and their self-confidence is boosted. It is an important step for them to think forward to a more independent way of life in which they can assume their role. Employees arrive independently by bicycle, public transport or shared bus to the Village Point where they work. From the Village Point, they also leave by bicycle or on foot to visit residents to perform low-threshold and accessible chores.
At each Village Point, residents can ask questions about mobility (with whom can they carpool, can they rent a bike, ...) so that less mobile residents also have access to society. At the Village Point, residents can have their bicycle repaired and receive a replacement bicycle for the duration of the repair. During the '30 days less car' project, residents could try out different means of transport.
By combining the needs of the neighbourhood with social inclusiveness and the redevelopment of vacant buildings, we are creating a connecting shared added value for all parties.
The buildings housing the Village Points were previously empty. Bringing empty buildings back into circulation provides ecological, economic and social added value. Together with the local municipal authorities, the empty properties were carefully selected and renovated with an eye for the uniqueness of the village. In Beveren-aan-de-IJzer, De Lovie vzw refurbished a former catering business, in Stavele a resident gave her holiday home a new lease of life, in Krombeke, Pervijze and Zandvoorde rundown meeting centres were given a new purpose at the request of the authorities.
When setting up the Village Points, for ecological and budgetary reasons, we thought as much as possible about reusing materials and how to optimise as much as possible with limited resources. We think circularly by appealing to residents for donations (a wheelbarrow, cooking pans, racks and cupboards for the shop). Each Village Point was decorated with great care and warmth. There is space to have a coffee in a cosy setting, the shop offers enough space for shopping.
Quote:
'The village point, three words for me ... I LOVE IT. There is a super nice meeting place where you can meet people. I myself have not lived here for very long and thanks to the village point I have met a lot of people and got to know a lot of people. So that's wonderful huh ....'
'A place full of magic, an inexhaustible cupboard with shelves and racks full of goodies and healthy foods, heartwarming goodies for yourself or as a gift, baskets full of friendship and kilos of chatter and good mood.'
We dream of a world in which people with and without disabilities truly live, work and reside together. Inclusion starts in everyday life. Where people already are. We like to call the people with disabilities working at the Village Point our employees, a confirmation of the equality we strive for. To give as many people as possible the chance to use their talents, different crews of staff come to the Village Points every day. Thanks to the 'Talent seeks Talent' programme, with European support from Leader and ELFPO, we developed a training to find and further encourage their own talents. After all, talent is not only about what you can do well, but also about what you like to do and who you are. How does an employee greet customers, what is sustainability and recycling, how do you address an audience? The employees themselves share their knowledge with the children of the village school. Volunteers are also invaluable to the Village Points. They are given space at the Village Point to pass on their know-how, craft skills to the community (from the young to the not so young). Because the Village Point is located near them, everyone feels welcome and involved. The Village Point starts from the strength of what people are capable of and finds out how the inhabitants of the village can be involved or what we can do for each other. Anyone can participate as a workshop initiator, as a client, as a volunteer, as a spectator, as a young volunteer discovering whether working with people with disabilities could be something for him or her ... each in his or her own way.
Quote:
"I prefer to ride the cargo bike around to deliver groceries and then stay on a bit to have a chat with people. They like me to drop by. They are not alone then. Sometimes I also drive to the farmer to pick up vegetables. Now we sell strawberries, but the strawberry grower brings them himself. We can't pick those up by cargo bike, that wouldn't be good for the strawberries."
The Village Point is designed in dialogue with the village and focuses on its demographics. In the preliminary process, we started surveying the needs with some key figures. We asked what they think is important, what is missing in the area. Then, based on their questions, we prepared a survey, which was distributed in the village. Once we had answers to these, we looked locally at how we could offer a solution together with the neighbourhood or facilitate them in this. In Beveren, we did a street sweep to introduce our project and so people could ask questions about it. There was also a lot of dialogue with the village during the opening. We have an appropriate offer and targeted activities. At the semi-annual village meeting, ideas can be exchanged and operations are evaluated. When setting up the various Village Points, we found that we had to gain the trust of the village. It was a new concept, not known in this area. Feasibility, necessity and competition with existing services were questioned. Through a village survey to various actors in and around the village, these observations were exposed, the concept was better understood and adapted and thresholds were overcome. Facilities are also gradually expanding... After all, social relationships do not allow themselves to be imposed just like that. People have to get to know each other first and there has to be a degree of trust before they come closer. Hence, through informal social contact (e.g. dinner together, coffee table, bingo afternoon) we want to break the ice, get to know each other. Then a chain of mutual support can be set in motion: doing a chore, going for a bike ride, ... There was also some threshold fear in dealing with people with disabilities. Once the threshold is overcome, visitors are charmed. They have a positive feeling because they feel welcome and also because they have the impression of contributing to a good cause. A Village Point is created in dialogue with the neigbourhood.
The demand for a Village Point always comes from the village or municipality itself. First of all, we will listen to what the needs are and try to find out how we can support them from De Lovie vzw. This way, we certainly meet the needs of the residents and do not compete with existing businesses. In the neighbourhood, we will then look for partners who can support us in this (local producers who want to sell products in the shop, companies who want to support us, the population who will help us with decoration) and municipal authorities (with renovation,publishing points for mobility). We received support from ELFPRO (European rural development) to strengthen the talents of staff so they can do the reception, learn to bake pancakes ... . On a national level, we are a member of Kwaito, a network of 11 organisations in Flanders that want to do business in a socially responsible and sustainable way for the benefit of vulnerable groups in society. From this network, we want to evolve towards entrepreneurship with multiple value creation.
The Village Points are a great example of socially embedded care, the creation of mutual commitment and a solution to provide services in remote residential areas. Dorpspunt in Beveren won the Matexi Award in 2017, the award for the most connecting neighbourhood initiative in Belgium. According to the jury, the initiative can inspire many small neighbourhoods and villages. In 2018, the Village Point in Beveren was also chosen as the laureate for 'De Megafoon', an award presented to a welfare project that, with the support of volunteers, contributes in an extraordinary way to a more engaged society. The jury: "By setting up a neighbourhood shop, a mobility hub and a meeting place with a social and servicing function, a bridge is being built between different groups in the local community. By providing services of mutual support of all kinds, such as glass collection, home delivery of groceries.... persons with disabilities reappear on the streets and stigmatisation is countered. Where before they only received care, they can now support people themselves, which greatly benefits their self-image. In this way, Village Point is a place of community building and connection. This was particularly appreciated by the jury. It is also positive that more and more younger volunteers are taking part in this project of mutual commitment and connectedness."
The figures below show how many people we reach with our services in the different villages.
Village point in Beveren:
- 23 employees (people with disabilities)
- 3 active volunteers (inhabitants from the village)
- 26 suppliers + 3 repair services
- On average 4 activities per month with Rummikub and knitting and crochet afternoons.
- 715 inhabitants
Village point in Stavele:
- 21 employees
- 7 volunteers + 5 bread workers (bread collection on Sundays in the village)
- 30 suppliers
- Average of 5-6 activities per month.
- 609 inhabitants
Village point in Krombeke:
- 18 employees
- 16 volunteers of which some weekly and some occasional
- 19 suppliers
- 2 activities recurring weekly, 2 activities recurring monthly and then 2-3 activities varying according to the month. There will soon be a 3rd weekly activity after town council approval.
- 665 inhabitants
Village point in Zandvoorde:
- 27 employees
- 5 volunteers
- 15 suppliers
- 2-3 activities on a monthly basis.
- 460 inhabitants
Village point in Pervijze:
- 6 permanent employees , 3 on Tuesdays and 3 on Thursdays.
- 1 volunteer, Maria, who takes care of glass collection with Dieter and Achim
- 1 supplier, drinks Vandenwouden
- Our activities per month are: 2x helping on the courtyard at school, 2x glass collection, 1 x Rummikub, 1x crochet and knitting, 1x crafts or other workshop.
- 831 inhabitants
You can follow the results on the Facebookpages from the different Village Points:
Beveren, Stavele and Krombeke: see web link below
Zandvoorde: https://www.facebook.com/groups/5278650525505338
Pervijze: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100073363574698
The Village Points are a completely new concept in the Westhoek. We focus on various areas: repurposing empty buildings and giving them a future again, making villages liveable again by bringing back long gone facilities, increasing social cohesion, removing thresholds for people with a vulnerability and increasing solidarity. We strive to give everyone a meaningful place in society, to give opportunities and to strengthen each person's talents. In 2017, the first Village Point in Beveren became a laureate of 'Radical Innovators', a competition organised by daily newspaper De Standaard and national radio station Radio 1 seeking inspiring stories on innovative solutions.
In the enclosed charter, you can read what terms 'a village point' must meet.
Briefly : A Village Point is a widely supported community initiative, situated in a village or neighbourhood that aims to: provide residents with added value in terms of living and living together in the inclusion of vulnerable people; strengthen the inclusion of vulnerable people within its functioning and its offer; promote social cohesion; to be a partial response to an environment with limited mobility opportunities by providing a range of services; to be an accessible, low-threshold location and to be self-sufficient.
We wrote down the entire process and methodology for 'setting up a Village Point in rural villages' in a charter (see above and annex). This allows the start-up of Village Points to be rolled out further in or outside the Westhoek. The development of Village Points really appears to be an opportunity to re-create a sense of community, improve the quality of life in villages and immediately link this to behavioural change on moving around the Westhoek. Cfr. Yellow Window's Service Design Trajectory. The intention is not to make an exact copy of the existing Village Points but to offer smart solutions in a continuous interaction with the village concerned. In the autumn of 2023, De Lovie vzw will open a sixth Village Point in Dranouter, Heuvelland. There is also a demand from other villages in the Westhoek to start up Village Points.
De Lovie vzw is part of Kwaito, a network of 11 organisations in Flanders that want to do business in a socially responsible and sustainable way for the benefit of vulnerable groups in society. From this network, a lot of interest has already been shown in starting Village Points in the rest of Flanders as well. As a connecting entrepreneur, Kwaito wants to inspire and move everyone in the transition to a new (care) system and a new language. They want to evolve towards entrepreneurship with multiple value creation. That means pursuing multiple values simultaneously that are of a social, ecological and economic order. It is always about creating more than just financial value. We take our inspiration from Jan Jonker and Niels Faber, who developed a business model that accommodates this multiple value creation.
With these Village Points, De Lovie vzw is committed to meaningful business. The daily news emphasises that agriculture cannot go on like this. With our short-chain vision, we want to make residents aware of short-chain agriculture. Live by the harvest of the season and show respect for artisanal products made with pure ingredients from their neighbourhood. We teach the children at the village school why it is important to clean up litter and set a good example ourselves. Inclusion is about truly involving and including people. An inclusive society adapts and ensures that everyone can participate and belong. Everyone has the same rights and the same opportunities to participate independently in all areas of life. This is only possible if we are considerate of each other and do not create barriers for others to participate. Working for inclusion of people with disabilities means as much as removing those barriers that cause people with disabilities to be excluded, but also giving them tools to participate in society. In the training 'Ambassadors for an inclusive society', people with intellectual disabilities learn to speak up themselves. After all, they know best how they experience the world. Everyone has talents and interests. It is therefore only natural that everyone is given the opportunity to use them effectively. The Westhoek is the rural area par excellence in Flanders with 87% open space and a population density of 183 inhabitants per square kilometre. The rural villages in the Westhoek and, by extension, in the northern French rural region have been struggling with the same mobility problems for many years. With the Village Points, De Lovie vzw wants to focus on local shopping in the village, form a mobility point itself with a sustainable character and thus make the villages liveable again and attractive for both young families and older people to stay there.
