UBC is a partner in the Erasmus+ project IN-HABIT, the Inclusive Housing and Accessibility for Belonging, Independence, and Transformation, which focuses on the issue of providing inclusive and affordable housing for people with disabilities.
Within the framework of the IN-HABIT project, a Call for Innovative Inclusive Housing Practices is launched to identify and showcase inspiring initiatives that promote independent living, community inclusion and accessible, affordable housing for people with disabilities.
The cities’ practice will be featured in the IN-HABIT Collection of Innovative Inclusive Housing Practices.
More information:
Nora Györke: [email protected]
European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD) developed a project DIGIT-ABLE: Driving Digital Transition for Social Enterprises for Inclusion.
In the framework of the project a series of transnational peer learning events will take place across Europe this spring.
The programme includes seminars, training sessions, and study visits offering opportunities to learn from real examples and connect with organizations working on digitalization and employment for people with disabilities.
The events target:
The events will be held in Santander, Spain, on 28–29 April 2026, Porto, Portugal, on 13–14 May 2026, Iași, Romania, on 19–20 May 2026 and Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on 4–5 June 2026.
It is possible to apply to project coordinator for funding to cover travel and subsistence costs.
More information: https://easpd.eu/project-detail/digit-able-driving-digital-transition-for-social-enterprises-for-inclusion/
The meeting is hosted by the City of Kaunas and organised together with the current Chair City Espoo. It will focus on the implementation of the UBC CCC Action Plan 2026, discussion about the development of the commission’s strategy for the coming years, and exchange of ideas on how arts and culture can strengthen resilience and a sense of belonging in cities.
The programme will connect with the Nordic Days in Kaunas, giving participants the opportunity to engage with a wider cultural and educational programme. On Wednesday afternoon, members are invited to join the Educational Forum “Development of Social and Pedagogical Innovations in Education”, exploring the role of creativity, culture and education in shaping future skills for children and young people.
The programme includes cultural activities and time for informal networking with colleagues from across the Baltic Sea Region.
Programme and practical information are attached.
More information and registration:
Habib Mohamud
Project designer
City of Espoo
+358 406343610
[email protected]
The European Commission proposal for the next EU budget is threatening social funding.
EASPD, the European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities joined forces with other European networks within the EUFunds4SocialCoalition to call for strong social investment in the future EU budget.
A joint statement was prepared, to ensure that social investment is strengthened, not weakened, in the next EU budget and sufficient resources are earmarked to support the inclusion of disadvantaged people across Europe.
In particular, the signatories call for the European Social Fund (ESF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) not be diluted within broader National Regional Partnership Plans and for them to build on what has worked in the current programming period, supporting inclusion, quality services, and equal opportunities across Europe.
The statement was signed by UBC.
The final numbers: 356 signatures, including 68 EU networks, and 288 national organizations from 33 countries.
(Latvian: “Atvērto datu pieejamības un apstrādes stiprināšana vietējas izaugsmes un pilsētas pārveides veicināšanai”; acronym used: OD4GROWTH).
OD4GROWTH helps Liepāja City improve access to municipal data, build capacity to process and reuse those data, and publish selected datasets so they can be used for business development, local economic growth and urban transformation.
Objectives
Key activities (planned / implemented)
Reported outputs / expected results
Partners
Implementing body: Liepāja City Municipality (municipal administration and IT department are involved).
Current status
Project in progress. A data audit and preparatory activities have been completed and datasets have been prepared for publication; further implementation and publication work continues.
Contact / practical information
Linda Alksne, IT department, Liepāja City Municipality Central Administration
+371 63 404 760 |[email protected]
For project pages and formal documentation see the municipal project page and council attachments: https://www.liepaja.lv/projekti/projekts-atverto-datu-pieejamibas-un-apstrades-stiprinasana-vietejas-izaugsmes-un-pilsetas-parveides-veicinasanai/
An old park that was previously hidden away will now become a gathering place for the entire village, as new parks, playgrounds, and walkways are linked together into green social spaces. At the same time, road safety will be improved, and the excellent rail commuting opportunities from Köpingebro will be strengthened. Together, these efforts create the foundations for sustainable development where history, nature, and new housing are put together.
The YEP programme was launched by the CoR at the 8th European Summit of Regions and Cities in 2019 as a way to give young locally and regionally elected representatives a first-hand look into the EU. The programme has grown both in size and scope since its inception. With a network of almost 1000 young representatives from the EU and its neighbourhood, the YEP programme has become an integral part of the CoR. As such, YEPs get the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with CoR members, take part in tailored trainings and participate in the CoR’s flagship events.
More information: https://cor.europa.eu/en/our-work/cooperations-and-networks/young-elected-politicians-programme
]]>Energy Cities spring edition of the funding digest presents several important EU funding opportunities for cities, such as LIFE, HORIZON EUROPE and EUROPEAN URBAN INITIATIVE.
Also other opportunities are introduced: EPAH 2026 technical assistance, 3rd Call for applications; EEA and Norway Grants 2021-2028; European Energy Communities Facility; European City Facility.
People Meet People: fostering multicultural dialogue in Norway.
The dialogue method People meet people is developed by Arendal adult education, With Heart for Arendal and Arendal Library. The idea of People meets people came as a response that more among the locals who had lived in the city long wanted more contact with newly arrived refugees and immigrants – and vice versa. Inspired by a library in Sweden, which in addition to lending books also loaned out Swedes to refugees and immigrants, we created our own variant.
The original People meet the people concept was as follows: ten newly arrived immigrants and refugees from Arendal adult education met ten familiar faces in Arendal for dialogue in public space. The idea was to connect people who could have pleasure or interest in meeting across ethnic and cultural divides.
On the basis of this, we purposefully began inviting newly arrived refugees, immigrants and long-dwelling local people to daytime dialogue meetings. We connected people who might never otherwise meet each other, and it should turn out that People meet people had greater heart power than anyone could have an idea beforehand.
Up until now, several hundred people have attended People meet people. They ask us to spread the method and to continue dialogue work. Funds from the Gjensidige Foundation have enabled us to systematically go to work systematically. People meet people are now spread throughout Agder through the Norwegian Library Association Agder, and we constantly find that municipalities across the country contact us with a desire to arrange their local People meet people.
Today, the centre of gravity of the People’s Movement is meeting people in local libraries, in collaboration with adult education, refugee services/NAVs and volunteer centres. It’s an important basic principle that People face folk events should be locally anchored. Therefore, good training is always given in the method ahead of events.
More information:
https://democracy.uia.no/people-meet-people-norway/