Social Centre for Opportunities and Mental Health

Purpose and goal

The project brings together the municipality, region, and civil society in a shared arena for vulnerable adults. A safe, alcohol-free space offers social connection, information, education, access to authorities, and coordinated support. The goal is to strengthen empowerment, health, and inclusion. Activities are co-created with the target group, seen as experts on their needs, to develop new methods and improve services under the new Social Services Act.

Expected effects and result

The project is expected to result in a meeting place that, after its completion, can be made permanent and jointly operated by Eskilstuna Municipality, Region Sörmland and the Sörmland City Mission. The project will also develop methods that can be broadly applied within the partners’ organisations and support a sustainable system. The experiences and methods will be shared with other municipalities and actors in the region through the Sörmland City Mission and the Swedish City Missions.

Planned approach and implementation

The project is based on co-creation, involving the target groups in planning and evaluation. The meeting place is jointly run by the municipality, the region and the City Mission, combining resources to offer early, voluntary and sober support without formal assessments. It provides community, health-promoting activities and guidance to relevant services. The work is recovery-oriented and developed with participants, focusing on learning and sharing effective methods.