Support by the Nordic Welfare Centre

Changing Places Nordic is now recognized for support from the Nordic Welfare Centre. The centre is funded by the Nordic Council of Ministers and operates under their mandate. For 2025 were granted support for Changing Places in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Its a true result of good Nordic Cooperation, with common focus on welfare, sustainability, and cultural exchange.

The granted support will support network collaboration between networks for changing places in all the three Nordic nations, working together to promote Changing Places Toilets inn the Nordic countries. This type of collaboration can occur in various fields,

The Network Collaboration:

There will be several benefits of having Changing Places under one Nordic umbrella.

1. Shared Objectives: The countries align on common goals, such as economic growth, climate action, or technological innovation.
2. Resource Sharing: They pool resources, expertise, and infrastructure to achieve mutual benefits.
3. Knowledge Exchange: Collaboration often involves sharing best practices, research, and innovation.
4. Joint Projects: Countries may launch joint initiatives, such as infrastructure projects, research programs, or policy frameworks.
5. Policy Coordination: They may harmonize policies or regulations to facilitate trade, travel, or environmental protection.

The granted support is from The Nordic Welfare Centre (Nordens välfärdscenter). An organization that promotes social welfare, health, and equality across the Nordic region, which includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and the autonomous territories (e.g., Greenland, Faroe Islands, and Åland). It serves as a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in areas such as public health, disability rights, social inclusion, and welfare policies.

Key Activities:

1. Knowledge Sharing: Facilitates the exchange of best practices and research among Nordic countries.
2. Policy Development: Supports the creation of policies that improve welfare and social equality.
3. Projects and Initiatives: Runs projects focused on health, disability, aging, and integration of marginalized groups.
4. International Collaboration: Works with the EU and other international organizations to promote Nordic welfare models.

Their focus areas is as follows:

• Disability rights and accessibility
• Public health and prevention
• Social inclusion and integration
• Elderly care and aging populations

The Nordic Welfare Centre plays a key role in maintaining the Nordic countries’ reputation for strong welfare systems and social equality. This is easily adoptable in our common UNs sustainability goals (Norwegian text) for Changing Places Toilets.

For Changing Places Nordic this is a milestone, meaning that we can join forces in between all the Nordic countries in common policy making for changing places.

Håvard Ravn Ottesen, project lead in Norway, is extremely happy by the recognizing from the common Nordic Welfare Centre. From application till founding from the centre were decided, the Changing Places initiative has grown and recently Denmark made Changing Places Danmark as a formal NGO just after new year 2025.

Lyndsay Jensen is teaming up with us and will be the lead of Changing Places Danmark and also keep a strong hand on developing the Nordics with the rest of us.

Contact
– Håvard Ravn Ottesen – havard@changingplaces.no (+47) 90 13 04 30
– Lyndsay Jensen – lyndsay@changingplaces.dk (‭+45) 42 40 76 24‬