Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Hasselt’s city administration and OCMW are set to deepen their cooperation with LeOnhuis, an organisation supporting children and families in education, development and welfare.
In the new collaboration, the city will contribute €50,000 each year and entrust LeOnhuis with a bigger responsibility in ensuring that vulnerable families are involved in leisure pursuits. This collaboration symbolizes a broader policy trend whereby leisure is no longer perceived solely as entertainment or a way of relaxing, but as a tool for the growth of the children. “Leisure time is so much more than relaxation,” said the city, emphasizing that through sport, culture, youth work, and other recreational activities, the children will be able to make friends, become confident, and connect with trustworthy adults.
Why is Hasselt investing in LeOnhuis?
This cooperation is meant for children and their families which are socially, economically and practically limited to attend organised leisure activities. The limitations could include poverty, language issues, lack of information about the existing activities, social isolation and costs associated with participation in organised activities such as registration, equipment and transport. For some families, a discount alone might be insufficient; it could be necessary for them to get assistance in searching for a suitable activity, filling out application forms, organising transport or gaining confidence in order to join a sport club, cultural institution or other youth organisations.
The cooperation between the city and the OCMW to cooperate closer with LeOnhuis means that Hasselt is looking for ways to combine financial support with advisory and community-based services. Instead of requiring families to seek out the services themselves, they can be assisted to link up with the school, social welfare workers, sports clubs and cultural institutions. The specifics of the new assignment, including start date, length and goals, were not provided in the accessible reports. What needs clarification is whether the €50,000 will be paid annually, by service contract or project basis.
What does the €50,000 investment cover?
The annual allocation represents a total of €100,000 over two years, €150,000 over three years and €250,000 over five years if continued at the same level.
What support already exists in Hasselt?
As mentioned, Hasselt’s social services also assist its citizens in accessing affordable forms of leisure and even provide some financial support for certain activities. Besides, the city supports the scheme called UiTPAS, which gives eligible citizens certain advantages and discounts. From the information that was provided by the city, it is clear that the preferential rate will allow residents to receive discounts of up to 80 percent from certain activities. Assistance in participating in a sports club or participating in certain culture and recreation programmes might also be included here. The collaboration between Hasselt and LeOnhuis would be a supplement to these efforts in the sense that LeOnhuis will be focusing on the promotion and guidance of its citizens.
What is LeOnhuis?
LeOnhuis is defined as a learning and development initiative intended to facilitate the social emancipation of people living in a neighborhood or district. It seems that LeOnhuis engages itself in a combination of educational support, personal development and community involvement. It should be noted that according to the available public information, there was already a LeOnhuis operating in Genk since December 2024. It means that the initiative is being implemented outside its place of origin although the available information cannot clarify whether Hasselt had already signed any official contract with the organization. Hence, the current Hasselt contract is important as it provides the organization with a clear role in the city policy regarding children, families and leisure activities.
