Youth activities in Hafnarfjörður have been significantly enhanced.  

Increased services to the neighbourhoods in an expanding municipality

At their meetings last week, the Education and Family Councils of Hafnarfjörður put forward proposals for ambitious changes to the social and leisure activities in the town for young people aged 16 to 24. The emphasis will be on strengthening and expanding the work, breaking down barriers and welcoming both disabled and non-disabled people to the leisure activities offered by the town. The reasons for this are primarily the rapid changes in society, a demand for increased participation from young people and equal opportunities for all, as well as the town's expansion, which calls for increased services in the neighbourhoods. A working group will be appointed in the coming days to implement the proposals with all relevant parties; representatives of the youth council and other users of the service. There will be no change to the youth work projects that have been planned until the autumn.

From one house to two – adapted service   

It is proposed that organised youth work be located in two places in the town instead of one, and that the integrated service for disabled people moves into the current youth centre premises on Suðurgata. The integrated service involves the merger of the Bæjarhraun Vocational Centre with the work and activity resources for disabled people already based in the premises. From the autumn, activities for young people in Hafnarfjörður will be based at Selhæll 7, which also currently houses the Hafnarfjörður Skateboarding Association in part of the building, and at the Learning Centre by Lækinn, which is already home to the Innovation Centre by Lækinn and the University of Iceland's Faculty of Engineering. Both locations offer great opportunities and possibilities, and the activities at both sites will be developed with young people on their own terms, with an emphasis on ensuring their ideals, goals and interests are met. At the same time, there is a call for increased support with subject choice and vocational training, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people in employment and vocational training, and facilitating their access to the design and implementation of innovative projects for their personal engagement and recognition.  

Response to the call from young people, parents and representatives   

In recent years, there has been a call from young people, the Hafnarfjörður Youth Council, parents and elected representatives for increased services for all young people in Hafnarfjörður, both disabled and non-disabled. Services for young people, education and support are crucial in modern society, and particularly so when it comes to prevention and mental health. The aim of the changes is to promote and create a diverse and creative leisure activity programme for young people in Hafnarfjörður, with an emphasis on education, development and well-being. The changes reflect recommendations from, among others, the Capital Region's Strategy for Prevention and Mental Health Promotion among young people, the Act on the Integration of Services for the Well-being of Children, and the objectives of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. 

More detailed information about the proposals:  

• Enhanced services that empower young people  – provision and access to psychologists, such as through Bergið Headspace, will be increased, as will other services that support young people.  
• Diverse artistic creation – Opportunities for diverse artistic creation will be increased with a new location and greater access to equipment and tools at the Innovation Centre by the Stream. 
• Prevention, education and a healthy lifestyle – In the premises of, for example, the Hafnarfjörður Boarding Club at Selhæll, a programme for young people based on their suggestions will be strengthened and developed.  
• Music and motor – The operations of Musik and Motor will remain unchanged.  
• The Friends' Shelter and The Rock – A resource for disabled children and young people will move to Selhælla this autumn and become better integrated with other services and activities. The aim is to reduce the segregation of these groups and to coordinate and improve the service. 
• The Youth Centre The Hammer – The Hammer's operations will be discontinued in its current form and location at 14 Suðurgata in mid-August.  
• Integrated services and increased synergy at 14 South Gate – The Bæjarhrauni fitness centre is moving to Suðurgata, creating exciting opportunities for the future for people of all ages.  

Memorandum presented to the Education Committee and the Family Committee