Problem addressed
In smaller villages, practical services and informal meeting places have gradually disappeared, contributing to social isolation, fewer accessible local services, and fewer inclusive opportunities for participation.
At the same time, people with intellectual and multiple disabilities are too often seen mainly as recipients of care, rather than as active contributors to community life. This reduces visibility, meaningful roles, and social inclusion.
In our context, we also experience varying levels of support from municipalities, and we need to communicate the impact of Dorpspunten on local communities in a clear and evidence-based way.
Target groups
- Individuals with intellectual and multiple disabilities
- Residents in villages / local communities (incl. people whose wellbeing is compromised)
Innovative solution
What we do: Dorpspunten (village points)
A Dorpspunt is a community meeting place run by people with intellectual and multiple disabilities, supported by partner organisations. It functions as:
- a welcoming place to meet,
- a local connector that helps residents access practical services,
- an inclusive learning environment where people learn by doing in real-life contexts.
Why it is innovative
Dorpspunten turn a support service into a visible community asset:
- People with disabilities are not only “clients” but hosts and connectors in village life.
- Villages regain an accessible meeting point and services that strengthen community cohesion.
- The model creates lifelong and lifewide learning in informal, accessible settings.
Who is involved
- Lead organisation: De Lovie vzw (Belgium, West Flanders)
- Aster: [explain role clearly: e.g., coordinator/network builder / partnership connector / learning ecosystem facilitator]
- Kwaito cv: [explain role clearly: e.g., develops and codifies the model based on experiences of cooperative partners]
- Municipalities: [explain role: location support, referrals, communication, co-funding, etc.]
- Cooperative partners: approximately 10 partners across Flanders and Brussels (incl. De Lovie vzw) that contributed hands-on experience.
How it works (methodology)
- Set-up & partnerships
Dorpspunten are created through collaboration between a care/support organisation, local partners and municipalities. - Running the Dorpspunt
People with disabilities take an active role as hosts and connectors, supported by staff/volunteers/partners (depending on the local context). - Activities and learning
Dorpspunten enable accessible, informal learning activities rooted in everyday village life (lifelong & lifewide learning). - Monitoring and learning
We collect quantitative data and qualitative feedback on activities and outcomes, and use impact methods such as SROI to communicate results.
Please add: frequency of opening, staffing/support model, safeguarding approach, and how participation is organised.
Please add: which Dorpspunt(s) exist in which village(s), and what “practical services” are included (examples).
Key results and benefits
Outcomes (what changes)
Based on collected data and feedback:
- Increased social participation and meaningful roles for people with disabilities
- Improved community cohesion and reconnection between residents
- Better local access to practical services and informal support
Impact measurement (SROI)
To estimate Social Return on Investment (SROI), we use financial proxies from the Social Value Engine (UK), developed with academic partners and based on scientific data. We apply methods and techniques from VIVES University of Applied Sciences (Bruges).
Potential for mainstreaming
Potential for mainstreaming
Based on the experience of ten cooperative partners across Flanders and Brussels, Kwaito cv is developing the Dorpspunt practice into a broader societal model called “community oriented intrapreneurship.”
This model has potential to be applied in other regions across Europe, especially in rural and semi-rural contexts where services have declined and inclusive community infrastructure is needed.
