ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

An Incubator for the Community Economy in the Netherlands

Amsterdam’s Incubator for the Community Economy seeks to support grassroots initiatives and foster a democratic, localised economy. A coalition of civil society organisations, with municipal support, launched the incubator to promote socio-economic change, in line with the vision of the Donut Economy.

The incubator supports initiatives that democratise ownership and governance, emphasise social value and ecological regeneration, and create tangible benefits for local communities. Inspired by the principles of commons, the incubator supports diverse models such as cooperatives. Such initiatives often face obstacles like rigid institutional frameworks and funding challenges. The incubator bridges these gaps through funding support, knowledge-sharing, and network-building.    

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TACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Volunteers from vulnerable groups work in the Food Garden in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

The Voedseltuin (the Food Garden) Rotterdam was founded in 2010 as a foundation with the purpose of providing fresh vegetables and fruit to the Food Bank in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The initiative aims to increase sustainable food production and provides places to learn and work for people from vulnerable groups.

Cooperating with nature
The initiative and its volunteers focus on the production of sustainable and organic vegetable and fruits without the use of pesticides and on the basis of permaculture. The Voedseltuin states that it ‘cooperates’ with nature, rather than manipulating it. As such, the garden constitutes a place of sustainable urban agriculture and food production.

For low-income people
The produce is donated to the Rotterdam Food bank among other social projects, such as the Islamic Food Bank. Consequently, people with low-income get better access to sustainable food. The Voedseltuin also implements specific projects, such as the development of a food forest in 2018. The forest’s harvests were also destined for Food Banks.

Increasing awareness
Another activity by The Voedseltuin is increasing awareness of sustainable food production. Namely, it provides workshops and education to children, youth groups, and enterprises related to education on permaculture, nature and sustainability.

An inclusive space
The Voedseltuin Rotterdam helps vulnerable groups by providing them with an activity which they can do during the day. This includes people who receive social support, are unemployed or have psychological health issues. The initiative lets them volunteer and work in the gardens. This way, the Voedseltuin seeks to provide an inclusive space for people belonging to different vulnerable groups.

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ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected within the Sustainable Mobility research line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

SOULMATE

Innovative solutions for seniors across three EU countries

The SOULMATE project, originating in Austria and involving partners in Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands, addresses mobility challenges faced by elderly individuals through innovative technology. This initiative developed a smartphone app that enhances mobility, promotes independence, and supports safer outdoor activities for senior citizens. By integrating augmented reality and real-time assistance, SOULMATE empowers older adults to navigate streets, public transport, and urban spaces with confidence.

The app provides three main features:

1. Virtual Route Training: Augmented reality technology allows users to familiarise themselves with outdoor routes using indoor cycling experiences.
2. Live Navigation and Emergency Support: The app offers tailored routes, an emergency SOS button, and live video support to enhance safety during travel.
3. Monitoring Options: Users can choose to share their route progress with trusted individuals for added peace of mind.

The project is grounded in co-creation, with seniors actively participating in workshops and testing across Austria. Early results showed strong interest, with participants eager to continue using the app. Despite challenges such as the digital learning curve for older users, the app’s design reflects a commitment to inclusivity and usability.

SOULMATE is a powerful example of how technology can address the unique needs of an ageing population. Its replicable model and cross-border collaboration make it a benchmark for inclusive innovation in mobility solutions.

Find out more about this inspiring initiative: SOULMATE Project

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Photo by the blowup on Unsplash

ACCTING aims to understand the impact of Green Deal policies on vulnerable groups, prevent inequalities, and produce knowledge and innovations to advance behavioural change at individual and collective levels for an inclusive and equal European Green Deal. This bottom-up initiative was collected within the Sustainable Mobility research line. Read our report on all 693 mapped initiatives.

Zonnebus Cuijk, NL

Enhancing the mobility of senior citizens in a sustainable way

The Stichting Zonnebus Cuijk (“Foundation Sun Bus Cuijk”) operates in the village of Cuijk (18,700 inhabitants) in the southern province of Noord-Brabant, NL. The Foundation uses an electric bus to transport elderly people through the village to different destinations, including the pharmacy, the library, and the supermarket. By opting for an electric bus, the Foundation puts an emphasis on sustainable forms of transport to enhance the mobility of senior members of their community.

The initiative started in 2015 when a local supermarket in Cuijk closed, forcing people in the neighbourhood to go to the city center for their shopping. This became an issue for several senior members of the community, as they were not able to do their own shopping, were more dependent on other people from the community, and had less local social interaction.

Zonnebus Cuijk seeks to enhance the mobility of seniors and combat mobility poverty through the means of sustainable transport. The bus route goes through the city, stopping at 1) senior complexes and buildings and 2) important locations and facilities in the city. The bus is equipped with dedicated space for wheeled walkers/rollators and easy entry and exit for seniors.

Find out more here.

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