At the heart of the community: insights from Caring Communities in the Netherlands

Five initiatives, five local stories

In 2024, Vilans took a new approach to understanding these communities. Instead of observing from a distance, we embedded five colleagues, our Community Correspondents, into five local initiatives. They participated in daily life, joined events, served coffee, and most importantly, listened. This immersive method allowed us to learn from within, not just about these caring communities.

Our colleagues participated in these inittiatives:

• Kracht van Zuilen (Utrecht): neighborhood network connecting residents through media, events, and mutual aid.
• Stadsdorp Elsrijk (Amstelveen): diverse community with over 100 volunteers across clubs and working groups.
• Fort Vreeswijk (Nieuwegein): resident-run community center offering cultural and social activities.
• Brummen Gezond (Brummen): cooperative linking local initiatives and professionals to strengthen social cohesion.
• DAVA – Door Achterveld Voor Achterveld (Leusden): large volunteer network supporting vulnerable residents through practical services and community building.

Eight insights for working with caring communities

1. A community is more than what you see

Caring Communities are built on relationships, not just on visible structures or organized activities. Their true essence lies in the informal relationships, shared routines, and mutual attentiveness that bind people together. This means that activities like neighborhood lunches or card games are not only social events, they’re opportunities for connection. These subtle dynamics, such as knowing who needs help, who can offer it and when to step in, are not easily captured in data or organizational charts. Professionals must learn to recognize and value these invisible threads of connection, which are often the most resilient and impactful elements of community life.

2. Collaborate according to community logic

Communities operate with their own rhythm and logic, often characterized by spontaneity, flexibility, and low-threshold engagement. Initiatives emerge organically, often without formal plans. In many communities multiple similar initiatives coexist because they meet different needs. This contrasts with the structured, procedural nature of formal systems. Effective collaboration requires professionals to adapt to this community logic, rather than expecting communities to conform to institutional norms. Supporting the diversity of a care community, rather than streamlining it, ensures inclusivity.

3. Boards are bridges between community and system

While boards or steering groups often serve as contact points for external organizations, they do not represent the full scope of the community. They provide structure, continuity, and a point of contact for external partners. However, they are not the community itself. The broader network of residents, informal leaders, and everyday interactions form the true foundation of a Caring Community. Professionals should engage with boards respectfully and on equal footing, while also seeking deeper connection with the wider community to understand its full richness, diversity and potential.

4. One professional who understands the community is worth more than 100 residents who understand the system

Rather than teaching communities how to navigate bureaucracy, it’s more effective to embed professionals who understand the community’s culture, needs, and dynamics. Professionals who understand the logic of the community can act as translators, facilitators, and allies—bridging gaps between policy and practice. Their presence in the community fosters trust and enables more meaningful and equal collaboration, especially when they are empowered to act with flexibility and empathy. This approach shifts the focus from system compliance to genuine partnership.

5. Respect the limits of volunteerism

Volunteers are central to the vitality of Caring Communities, but their capacity is not unlimited. While they bring passion, commitment, and local knowledge, some tasks require professional expertise, emotional resilience, or sustained time investment that cannot be expected from volunteers. Recognizing these boundaries is essential to prevent burnout and maintain energy within the community. Professionals can support volunteers by offering clear role definitions, practical assistance, and access to resources, ensuring that community efforts remain sustainable and inclusive. A healthy balance between voluntary and professional roles strengthens the community as a whole.

6. Every euro counts

Small funds can have a big impact. Caring Communities often achieve remarkable outcomes with minimal financial resources. Small, flexible funding can enable activities that foster connection, wellbeing, and informal support. Unlike formal organizations, communities tend to use resources creatively and efficiently, often achieving multiple goals with a single activity. Supporting Caring Communities with low-threshold, adaptable funding mechanisms can unlock significant social value and reinforce their autonomy. Furthermore, financial support is not just practical. It also shows recognition and respect towards the community.

7. Simple, long-term support is key

Communities thrive when support from the formal system (meaning the municipality or healthcare insurers) is consistent, accessible, and uncomplicated. Complex procedures and short-term funding often disrupt the momentum within a community. Long-term, low-barrier support and funding allow communities to build trust, deepen relationships, and maintain continuity. Professionals and institutions should prioritize simplicity and reliability in their support strategies, offering resources in ways that align with the community’s own pace and capacity. This kind of support fosters resilience and long-term impact.

8. Societal impact is a by-product, not the goal

Caring Communities are driven by connection, not by metrics. Their activities often lead to reduced isolation, improved wellbeing, and stronger social cohesion, but these outcomes are secondary to the primary goal of being there for one another. Communities rarely start with the intention of producing measurable impact; they respond to real needs in real time. Professionals can help communities reflect on their impact and communicate it effectively, but should avoid imposing external expectations that might shift the focus away from authentic engagement. When impact is understood as a natural consequence of meaningful relationships, it becomes more powerful and sustainable.

Five building blocks for sustainable collaboration

Caring Communities are grassroots initiatives where residents take collective responsibility for wellbeing, inclusion, and mutual support. These communities are not driven by formal systems or policies, but by relationships, trust, and shared values. For professionals and organizations seeking to collaborate meaningfully, five foundational principles can guide the way.

1. See what’s already there

Effective collaboration begins with acknowledging and valuing the efforts already present in a community. Rather than introducing new programs from the outside, professionals should take time to observe, listen, and understand the informal networks, routines, and relationships that shape daily life. This recognition builds trust and prevents duplication or disruption of existing strengths.

2. Build bridges

Caring Communities and formal institutions often operate with different languages, rhythms, and expectations. Professionals must learn to navigate these differences with empathy and flexibility. Building bridges means fostering mutual understanding, adapting communication styles, and creating space for shared decision-making. It requires professionals to step out of their organizational logic and into the lived reality of the community.

3. Commit to continuity

Trust and community strength grow over time. Short-term projects or temporary funding can undermine the stability that communities need to thrive. Sustainable collaboration involves long-term commitment, consistent presence, and reliable support. This includes offering accessible resources, maintaining relationships, and being available beyond the duration of a specific initiative.

4. Collaborate for meaningful Impact

Impact in Caring Communities is not measured by metrics alone. It emerges from relationships, shared experiences, and collective action. Professionals can support communities by helping them reflect on their journey, articulate their values, and share their stories. This approach respects the community’s own logic and avoids imposing external frameworks that may not align with their goals.

5. Grow the movement

What works in one community can inspire others. Sharing insights, challenges, and successes helps grow a broader movement toward inclusive and caring societies. Professionals and organizations can contribute by embedding community collaboration into their strategies, celebrating local achievements, and creating platforms for exchange and learning.

Conclusion: join the movement

Caring Communities are not a fix for system failures. They are a different way of living. Built on proximity, trust, and mutual support, they offer a vision of society where care is not just provided, but shared.

Are you a professional, policymaker, or organization in care, housing, or wellbeing? Then we invite you to step into the community. Visit a local initiative, listen, join a coffee morning. And don't ask what the community can do for your system, but what you can do to support the community.

Together, we can build a more caring society.