Aarhus improves public health and welfare with an online portal

Following its success, socialkompasset.dk will become available on a national level by 2025

In June, the Danish Municipality of Aarhus launched a portal to improve welfare and help citizens access a variety of services for free. On the website (socialkompasset.dk), one can see an overview of the services Aarhus and its voluntary social associations have to offer.

Expanding on this, the portal allows citizens to find help and support relating to social and health-related issues. It is important to note that the services are available to people of all ages and abilities, victims of violence and sexual abuse, refugees and immigrants, and those who struggle with addiction, among others. As such, the portal offers a variety of services, from free legal aid to help with homework.

A nationwide initiative

On 20 December, the Municipality of Aarhus proudly shared that the portal has been well received by inhabitants over the past six months. For this reason, the Ministry of Social Affairs has allocated funds to transform the project from a local project to one that is available nationwide. According to a press release by the municipality, this transformation should be achieved by 2025.

In recent years, the Mayor of Aarhus Jacob Bundsgaard has worked hard to find ways of strengthening welfare services. To create socialkompasset.dk, the municipality reached out and connected with civil society to achieve just that. Commenting on the success of the portal, Mayor Bundsgaard shared:

“Socialkompasset.dk is an example of how co-creation between municipalities and civil society can result in completely unique solutions for citizens. Socialkompasset.dk is a simple and clever solution to a very big challenge. […] I am extremely proud of how the many years of focus on volunteering and co-creation in Aarhus Municipality has borne fruit to such an extent that it can now benefit Danes in many more municipalities.”