54 village and community centers in Drenthe will receive the Dagblad van het Noorden free of charge for the next two years. With this, the Province of Drenthe implements the motion of the Provincial States ‘The newspaper on the table in every village center’.
The pilot was set up in collaboration with the BOKD (Broad Consultation Group Small Villages). Village and community centers could register for participation. The interest proved to be great: 54 locations participate from the start. They choose a subscription form that suits their opening hours and the use of their location.
Meeting and involvement
Deputy Yvonne Turenhout: “With this pilot, we not only bring the news closer to people, but also strengthen social cohesion in our villages. A newspaper on the table invites conversation, curiosity, and connection. That is exactly what our village centers are meant for.” The province sees this pilot as a practical way to support neighborliness. Especially in smaller communities, the village center is often the heart of the village.
Costs and implementation
The costs of the pilot are expected to be approximately €28,000 per year. For the full duration of two years, this amounts to about €57,000. This takes into account possible additional registrations during the term. The pilot is funded from existing resources for Neighborliness within the Social Agenda.
Evaluation
The pilot will be evaluated after one year and at the end. This will look at reach, usage, and social added value. Based on this, it will be assessed how the follow-up can look.