Volunteer-run open meeting places constitute an important part of leisure and youth development services for young people in Norway. Such meeting places can give young people access to safe, inclusive, and meaningful social arenas without requirements for membership, performance, or long-term commitment. At the same time, there is limited systematic knowledge about the scope of these services, how they are organized, which young people they reach, and how they interact with municipalities and other public actors.
The project examines the characteristics of such services, how they can be distinguished from other leisure and youth services, and their current scope in Norway.
It also maps the meeting places’ objectives, target groups, activities, ownership and operating models, expertise, funding, and user participation.
A central question is also which young people use these services, and how the meeting places facilitate inclusion, social participation, and safe contact with adults.
