Study Visits
- 22/06/2025 13:00 - 15:00
The time allocated for the Study Visits includes time for transport to and from the Visit. Meeting Point is Aarhus City Hall.
Holmstrupgaard – A supportive housing facility for Children and Youth in Distress
Max. capacity: 20 persons
Holmstrupgaard is a supportive housing facility in Braband, west of Aarhus, home to approximately 40 children and young people aged 12-23. Holmstrupgaard is for some of the most vulnerable groups of children and young people who struggle to manage diagnoses of severe conditions such as eating disorders, schizophrenia, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, borderline personality disorder, autism, post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety.
Referral to Holmstrupgaard is usually done once all other possible interventions have been addressed.
More than 80 staff members work daily to help residents alleviate the impact of their condition and eventually lead a more typical daily life. The therapeutic approach is based on an environmental therapy structure, emphasising social interaction and contact within a predictable and familiar framework.
During this visit, delegates will have an opportunity to visit the facilities together with a presentation of our professional approach to working with young people.
DOK – On the Edge of Society
Max. capacity: 35 persons
The DOK programme for Criminally At-Risk and Convicted Youth (DOK) includes four facilities, which have been set up as an alternative to prison for to young people who have been convicted of crime.
The programme usually supports young people aged 12-17 who face one or more of these challenges: substance abuse, crime, mental health issues, or difficulties with learning and social skills. DOK also plays an important preventive role in helping other young people who may be at risk of getting in trouble.
The facilities are either secure or semi-secure and the length of stay may vary.
The goal is to provide a calm, stable, and safe environment so that young people can develop through programmes like
MultifunC for young people with very challenging behaviour, including aggression and criminal activity. This programme, which was developed in Norway, has also been tested in Sweden and has yielded positive results.
During this study visit, delegates will tour the MultifunC programme and learn more about how DOK works with young people ‘on the edge of society’.
Staircase to Staircase in Gellerup-Toveshøj – a Transformation Area
Max. capacity: 25 persons
On this study visit, participants will meet Pernille Randrup Thomsen, who leads the ‘Staircase to Staircase’ programme to support families in Gellerup-Toveshøj. This neighbourhood has been known for its high crime rate and social problems. However, through a relational welfare approach and a city development plan since 2007 with a local housing association, residents have now new opportunities.
On this study visit, participants will walk through the area with Pernille and afterwards have the opportunity to get in depth knowledge on the work done by ‘Staircase to Staircase.’
Visit Kulturhus Bunkeren – Home of ImperfectCity
Max. capacity: 30 persons
Kulturhus Bunkeren is a vibrant cultural hub in Aarhus Nord dedicated to community engagement and creativity. Once a school of journalism, it now hosts a variety of activities, including art exhibitions, workshops, and community events.
Visitors can admire the building’s brutalist architecture while participating in the many ongoing activities within the house, which includes creative workshops for young people with mental health problems, craft sessions, conferences, flea markets, and talks.
The venue is home to key organisations like Museum Ovartaci, which explores social vulnerability through art, and Skejby Rangers, a social enterprise focused on creating job opportunities for part-time employees.
Kulturhus Bunkeren also hosts the EUI-funded project ImperfectCity that celebrates the imperfections of people and buildings, fostering a more inclusive city by raising public awareness and acceptance of urban imperfections.
During this study visit, participants will explore the facility and learn more about its diverse activities and initiatives.