SOCIAL PROJECTS

In 1998 the City Council decided to establish a department which works with people on social security, people who apply for pensions or rehabilitation and people on sickness benefit. The city of Nykobing F has prepared many offers addressed to all the target groups.

For those who have problems with drugs or alcoholism, poor education or various social problems, the primary task is improvement of their life style. This group needs small and securely projects, with known settings and close daily contact to the project workers. The city policy is to help those people by creating opportunity to improve their lifestyle and to avoid further social problems. The Labour Centre is responsible for all activities regarding activating people.

For the group with problems, such as many years or unemployment, out-dated education and lack of experience, the city tries to help by improving their skills through education or training in various tasks. Therefore the projects similar to the Labour Market, where project workers are employers, were established.

There is also a co-ordinator that is responsible for the visitation of people to the jobs in co-operation with social workers in the department. Everyone starts with a short trial period in the company. In this period such a person receives social security money. After the trial period they might get, hopefully, an ordinary job. This project is quite new, but the local Labour Market has been very positive, so expectations are high.

Also when people are on sickness benefit for a long period without connection to a job it implies a certain risk on possibility to get back to the labour market. That's why Nykobing F. has decided to offer this group the possibility to participate in courses where they can meet people in the same situation and make plans for their future, their rehabilitation or pension.