When some twenty participants from local governments, civil society, and the business community gathered at Science Park Borås on March 4, the day was devoted to exploring how Sjuhärad can develop the places of the future with and for young people—and how European perspectives can strengthen this work, from policy to implementation.
The stakeholder meeting, which is part of the Interreg project Youngspace, brought together participants from local governments, civil society, and the business community in the Borås region. During the afternoon, the group attended presentations, shared experiences, and participated in a workshop where they explored the concept of “best practices” and youth participation in sustainable community development.
“Youngspace gives us the opportunity to broaden our perspective and develop how we approach policy in theory and practice in the region. When we learn about each other’s policy work in Europe, we also discover new ideas and perspectives,” says Ulrika Sjölund, head of Forum for Social Innovation Sweden at the University of Borås and project manager for Youngspace.
Beautiful, sustainable, and together – NEB as a core value
During the meeting, participants explored in depth how spaces for young people can be developed, and how both local and European experiences can contribute to this work. A key part of the program was an inspirational talk by Suzanne Pluntke from Boverket, who demonstrated how the New European Bauhaus (NEB) can strengthen the development of environments where young people are actively involved.
“NEB helps us maintain high standards in both process and product. It’s about creating places that are sustainable, inclusive, and beautiful—and doing so in collaboration with the people who use them,” explains Suzanne Pluntke.
The workshop built on these values and allowed participants to analyze examples from their own organizations. The discussions showed how young people’s ideas can lead to real change, but also how mandates, time, and structures influence the extent of participation. By comparing experiences across municipalities, a shared understanding began to take shape: that participation is not a separate activity, but something that needs to be built into methods, structures, and culture.
Participation in Practice – What Do We Need to Succeed?
A central part of the workshop focused on what actually defines “best practice.” During the discussions, it became clear that it is not about finding a ready-made model, but about understanding why something works—and what can be applied to a different context. Participants described how factors such as scalability, resources, and trust in youth-led initiatives play a major role in the outcome, as does organizations’ willingness to try new approaches.
“The Youngspace project is giving us new experiences as we work together to build a European ‘Community of Practice’—much like a library where we can find inspiration and lessons to learn. We’ll apply these insights to both policy work and practical activities in collaboration with public sector partners,” says Ulrika Sjölund.
From inspiration to the next step
The day also included a study visit to the Borås School of Culture, which provided concrete examples of how young people are already active contributors to their environment. The visit served as a fine illustration of several of the day’s discussions, particularly regarding how participation can be reflected in both the process and the results. The next step in the Youngspace project is an interregional meeting in Seville where all project partners will gather to continue the work of collecting and analyzing best practices. The long-term goal is to help create conditions where young people have real influence over the places where they live.
About Youngspace
Youngspace is a European collaborative project involving eight organizations from seven countries. The project aims to involve young people in sustainable community building and to develop policies that can promote young people’s social, cultural, and political roles in society. The focus is on exchanging experiences regarding leadership and public strategies that support spaces for young people, with the goal of promoting inclusion, creativity, and social innovation.
Youngspace is funded by Interreg Europe and the Västra Götaland Region’s Culture Department. Within the region, the project will focus on the Swedish policy area of designed living environments—that is, how the physical environment is shaped and experienced. The project is also linked to the EU’s New European Bauhaus initiative and is based on a holistic approach that integrates social, ecological, and aesthetic values to create attractive and sustainable living environments for young people. Read more about Youngspace here.
Text: Jennie Andersson