Welfare in Practice: Lessons from Norwegian Initiatives Supporting Inclusion and Entrepreneurship 

Across Europe, communities are exploring new ways to strengthen social inclusion, economic participation, and well-being. Within the Erasmus+ project CommUnity – Empowering Adult Entrepreneurs to Build Resilient Communities, partners have developed research on community welfare initiatives in their countries to identify practices that support more inclusive and resilient local ecosystems.

As part of this work, the project team examined a range of community welfare initiatives that demonstrate how local organizations, civil society, and public institutions collaborate to address social challenges in Norway.

Community initiatives supporting inclusion

Norway is known for its strong welfare system, but many innovative solutions emerge at the community level. Local programs often focus on supporting people who face barriers to participation, including immigrants, youth, people with disabilities, and individuals outside the labor market.

For example, Caritas Norway helps newly arrived immigrants learn how to access digital public services such as healthcare platforms and welfare portals. Strengthening digital literacy improves independence and helps participants integrate more easily into Norwegian society and the labor market. 

Other initiatives focus on employment and skills development. For instance, GET Academy practical IT training for people who want to enter the technology sector, helping individuals outside the labor market build the skills needed for employment.

Strengthening communities through collaboration

Many successful initiatives share common characteristics. They are typically low-threshold and accessible, removing barriers such as participation fees or complex bureaucracy. They also rely on cross-sector collaboration, bringing together public institutions, NGOs, businesses, and volunteers.

These approaches demonstrate that community welfare is not only about delivering services, but also about creating opportunities for people to participate and contribute.

Connecting entrepreneurship and community welfare

For the project team, these insights highlight the strong link between entrepreneurship, adult learning, and community development. When individuals gain the skills and confidence to create businesses or social initiatives, they contribute not only to economic growth but also to stronger and more inclusive communities.

Through the CommUnity project, partners from Belgium, Italy, and Norway are exploring how entrepreneurship education can integrate community welfare principles. By sharing knowledge and practical experiences, the project aims to support entrepreneurs in developing initiatives that generate both economic and social value.

Ultimately, the Norwegian experience shows that when communities are given the tools, trust, and opportunities to act, they can play a powerful role in shaping more inclusive and resilient societies.