Village platforms

Websites Village platforms

All eight Village Platforms in the municipality of West Maas en Waal have a website with a fresh, modern look.

Every website provides up-to-date information specific to its own village. At the same time, residents also get an overview of what is happening throughout the municipality. This creates even more connection between the villages.

What does a Village Platform do?

A Village Platform identifies activities in the village that make life there more pleasant.

The enthusiastic volunteers of the platforms bring fellow villagers (and their ideas!) together. Together with the residents of the village, they take on projects. This makes the plans even better and stronger.

This is always done with the following question in mind: 'How attractive is the village as a place to live or work? And how can we preserve and improve this?' The activities of the village platforms are in line with the Vision for Quality of Life.

Ideas are often further developed and implemented in working groups.
Examples include:

• creation of a nature playground
• strengthening nature
• tackling litter
• expand hiking trails
• organizing a village festival
• attention to financial abuse or energy consumption

Recurring themes are:

• facilities
• reside
• sustainability
• safety and youth

Members oversee the entire village and are actively involved on a voluntary basis.

"My motivation to get involved in Appeltern is also partly self-interest. It allows me to actively contribute to making (and keeping!) my village a great place to live!"
Mario van der Velden, Appeltern village platform

Objective of Village Platforms

Village platforms aim to work together with residents to maintain and improve a good living environment in the village. Village platforms try to achieve this goal by, among other things:

• Informing residents about topics related to the living environment. They do this by:
  • by organizing meetings and publishing materials.
  • The foundation will maintain a neutral stance on topics that may lead to the adoption of a position.
• Identifying ideas, wishes, and needs among residents. They do this by:
  • on topics related to maintaining or improving the residential and living environment.
  • by, among other things, organizing meetings and conducting surveys.
• Encouraging residents to get involved with themes themselves. They do this by:
  • on maintaining and improving the residential and living environment (for example) in theme groups.
• Facilitating theme groups affiliated with the foundation. They do this:
  • in realizing projects that promote the preservation or improvement of the residential and living environment in the village.
• Acting as an intermediary between the residents of the village and the municipality of West Maas en Waal, or other relevant organizations. The foundation should not be seen as a representative, but as a connector that collects information from both sides and passes it on.
• Referring residents to the appropriate authorities for specific questions or complaints.

How does a Village Platform relate to the municipality?

• Each Village Platform is in contact with the municipality. In this regard, the platform acts as a link between the village and the municipality. There is an interaction between gathering and passing on information. The members of the platform are not representatives of a village.
• The municipality never uses a village platform as the sole means of contacting residents for resident participation. Village platforms are one of several excellent ways to connect with residents.
• The Village Platforms cannot participate in discussions on politically sensitive topics that have an impact. The municipality does not ask the Village Platforms to do so. However, the municipality can ask Village Platforms to use their network and connecting role to reach out to residents who may be interested in participating. Does a member of a platform want to participate in the participation process themselves? This is possible, but only in a personal capacity, as an independent resident.
• Each year, every Village Platform receives a subsidy. A Village Platform may not use the subsidy it receives to make financial contributions to associations/organizations. This applies when those associations/organizations organize activities for which they themselves already receive a subsidy from the municipality's annual subsidy program.
• Village platforms and the municipality meet every six months to discuss current issues. They do this together with the alderman for quality of life and the municipality's contact person. Village platforms have direct contact with the relevant civil servant regarding specific substantive issues.

The activities of the village platforms are in line with the vision of quality of life. Watch this video for more information about the Vision for Quality of Life 2030.