Across European cities, challenges to social cohesion have intensified, intersecting with long-standing socio-economic inequalities and new demographic, economic, geopolitical, and spatial pressures. Beyond material deprivation, some urban residents, such as the elderly, migrants, persons with disabilities, and others, are more vulnerable to exclusion, isolation, and discrimination.
Resolving exclusionary dynamics requires coordinated, place-based approaches that engage municipalities, public services, civil society, and other actors. Inclusive urban policies strategically activate existing welfare infrastructures, while still allowing for social innovation.
The following nine European cities are operationalising social inclusion as a core aspect of urban governance. These practices share some cross-cutting features, which is why they were included in the latest batch of URBACT Good Practices (2024).
Integrating public services to address intersecting needs
European welfare and urban governance systems are increasingly confronted with forms of vulnerability that cut across traditional policy domains. The practices listed below show how existing public services can be reconfigured – drawing on institutional cooperation, intermunicipal coordination, and cross-sectoral partnerships – to deliver more differentiated and context-sensitive forms of support.
#1 – Tâmega e Sousa (PT)
The Intermunicipal Community of Tâmega e Sousa developed the UNIDAS Intermunicipal Victim Support Network. UNIDAS provides free, specialised, confidential social, psychological, and legal services to victims of domestic violence. The network operates through 11 support centres, making services geographically accessible across the region.
A core strength of the practice is its intermunicipal public-service model: it brings together local administrations, justice actors (e.g., Public Prosecutor’s Office, National Republican Guard), health services, and child protection bodies under formal protocols and regular coordination meetings. This governance promotes standardised procedures and shared intervention strategies, enhancing efficiency and consistency of support.
#2 – Satu Mare County (RO)
Four complementary projects in Satu Mare have been bundled together to enhance the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups, particularly among Roma and other vulnerable communities. Integration is central: services and sectors are interwoven, combining health education and hygiene infrastructure, formal and informal learning, environmental awareness, employment outreach, and training for mediators and teachers.
A participatory approach has been essential to strengthening service synergies and local ownership, engaging municipalities, schools, NGOs (e.g., Red Cross), public health bodies, and community members in co-design and implementation.
Over 2 500 children and adults have benefitted from improved educational participation, health awareness, job access, and hygiene conditions, among other results.
#3 – Reggio Emilia (IT)
The municipality brokered a public-private governance model, involving the city, regional authorities, health agencies, charities, and regeneration partners, to launch Local Humanitarian Corridors. This multi-stakeholder initiative tackles migrant exclusion and homelessness by incorporating humanitarian support into broader urban regeneration efforts.
A formal protocol was signed by the municipality, the Local Health Agency, and other stakeholders, in collaboration with local authorities. It sets out roles, responsibilities, and coordination mechanisms, combining healthcare, legal support, housing reception, work placement pathways, administrative enrolment, and building renovation under one framework. A Steering Committee and operational table coordinate cross-sector action and tailor support to individual circumstances.
As the first pilot of its kind in Italy, the practice has generated a structured framework for dialogue, listening, and mediation, increasing the effectiveness and continuity of interventions over time.
Key takeaways for your city
These three practices represent effective integrated governance models for addressing vulnerability. The UNIDAS intermunicipal protocols, Reggio Emilia’s formal cross-sector agreements, and Satu Mare’s participatory projects align health, social, legal, housing, and employment services around individuals rather than institutions.
These practices are highly transferable to other cities looking to create shared procedures, stable coordination structures, and trusted local delivery mechanisms.
Intergenerational cultural practices and public events as sites of social recognition
Public events and cultural initiatives are not always part of traditional welfare systems, even if they are central to creating a sense of belonging and recognition in everyday urban life. The following practices see festivals and public gatherings as social infrastructures, which can be conduits for addressing stigma, prejudice, and other dimensions of exclusion that are not easily resolved through service delivery alone.
#4 – Sarajevo (BiH)
In Sarajevo, an Urban Sensory Garden has transformed neglected urban land into an accessible green space. By integrating tactile, visual, and olfactory features within a community garden setting, the project promotes the inclusion and wellbeing of children and youth with developmental disabilities in connection with nature.
The garden also fosters intergenerational interaction – welcoming adults, families with children, and people of all abilities – while also enhancing biodiversity and environmental stewardship in a central urban neighbourhood.
By prioritising accessibility and multisensory engagement, this initiative is creating environments where people with disabilities feel safe, valued, and part of community life.
#5 – Ljubljana (SI)
Ljubljana is challenging perceptions about ability and participation through Play With Me. This annual international inclusive festival brings together people with and without special needs to celebrate creativity, talent, and cooperation. The five-day event fills public squares and parks with over 40 workshops, performances, games, and cultural activities.
This event places individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities not only as participants, but as organisers, performers and leaders, breaking down stereotypes and fostering mutual respect.
#6 – Schaerbeek (BE)
The SAME Festival promotes equality, inclusion, and social cohesion through a diverse programme of conferences, theatre, accessible cinema, exhibitions, and community activities. This two-week municipal cultural event is organised by the municipality’s Equal Opportunities Service, in partnership with local associations and citizens.
A key strength of the festival lies in its inclusive design: events are free, held in a variety of cultural venues, and co-developed with community groups, including youth centres and local artists. The festival explicitly addresses intersectionality, tackling racism, gender inequality, LGBTQIA+ rights, and accessibility.
This participatory model fosters intergenerational interaction and cultural exchange, enabling younger people to serve as ambassadors and contributors alongside established community members.
#7 – Vila Nova de Cerveira (PT)
Olympics4all started in 2015 as an Erasmus+ project, using adapted sports, traditional games, and friendly competition to motivate seniors to train regularly and participate in community events. The programme addresses challenges of ageing – such as isolation and inactivity – by fostering health, social ties and engagement through tailored activities.
What began as a unique event evolved into weekly training sessions and annual competitions across 10 municipalities in the Alto Minho region. By 2024, over 1 000 seniors in six countries were involved, with more than 30 events organised and people with disabilities included, showing its broader social impact. The project’s success was recognised by the EU BE ACTIVE 2023 Across Generations Award, among other accolades.
Key takeaways for your city
These practices should inspire other cities to rethink community events as spaces for awareness-raising and empowerment. Sarajevo’s sensory gardens, Ljubljana and Schaerbeek’s inclusive festivals, and Vila Nova de Cerveira’s active ageing sports provide models for building community resilience over the longer term.
Expanding participation at all cultures and ages
Social inclusion is not solely determined by access to services but also agency and capacity to make decisions within policy processes. Yet many groups affected by exclusion continue to encounter structural barriers to participation, whether due to specific personal conditions or impediments, institutional design, procedural complexity or asymmetric power relations. The following practices focus on making participation essential to the governance of social policies.
#8 – Fuenlabrada (ES)
The Living Together Board (Junta de Convivencia) is a sustained participatory body of 31 associations committed to making diversity visible and strengthening intercultural coexistence as foundations for sustainable urban development.
Embedded in the city’s Local Action Plan of the Urban Agenda, the Junta facilitates structured engagement between residents and local authorities. Its activities include discussion labs, inter-associative meetings on Refugee Day and Human Rights Day, and a volunteer Solidarity Network. Additional initiatives—one-stop newcomer services, a Citizen Audit Network, and an anti-rumours campaign—demonstrate its multi-modal approach.
By fostering mutual accountability, amplifying marginalised voices, and promoting interaction between citizens, migrants, and institutions, the Junta strengthens municipal legitimacy and drives more inclusive, transparent, and informed urban development.
#9 – Torres Vedras (PT)
The Healthy and Active Elderly programme was established to combat social isolation among older adults by actively involving them in meaningful civic roles. The programme creates a cultural heritage tourist circuit around 11 churches, where senior participants (55+) manage daily operations, give guided tours, and collect visitor data, receiving a small monthly reward for their work. This direct engagement fosters civic participation, social utility and inclusion, strengthening seniors’ sense of purpose and social connectivity while improving physical and mental wellbeing.
Local partners—from municipal authorities to heritage associations—work with participants throughout implementation and evaluation, illustrating co-production in social policy and community-driven service delivery.
Impact assessments show significant reductions in social isolation, increases in self-esteem and economic security for participants, and broader cultural benefits such as increased access to heritage sites.
Key takeaways for your city
Efforts to build residents’ capacities to participate, influence policy, and contribute to community life are worthwhile and can take different forms such as a federated board or civic engagement programmes. These practices foster agency, social cohesion, and even decision-making power, among marginalised groups, newcomers, and seniors alike.
A more inclusive future: beyond access to services
URBACT selected the above practices precisely because they view inclusion as both a measurable outcome and a guiding principle for enhanced and effective urban governance. From this position, they devise creative and new ways to combat exclusion, combining systemic service integration, cross-sectoral and intergenerational coordination, and participatory governance to respond to complex, overlapping social needs.
Want to discover more urban sustainable development practices from across Europe? Explore the full database of URBACT Good Practices!
Discover the 25 new URBACT Transfer Networks, which are about to start their journey! Two of the above-mentioned practices will be transferred to other European cities in the upcoming cycle of URBACT Transfer Networks: Vila Nova de Cerveira (PT) will lead one network, with Olympics4all, and Tâmega e Sousa (PT) will lead another, with the Intermunicipal Victim Support Network.
Follow URBACT’s social data webinars series for more resources on how cities can understand and support their local communities.
