Residents for Regeneration (R4R) is a network of residents who actively deal with renewal issues in their neighbourhood. They share their ideas and expertise they have acquired with their own and other communities.
The idea for R4R originated in England under the leadership of Dick Atkinson who works in Balsall Heath, a Birmingham neighbourhood. In England, a model has emerged in which people living in one neighbourhood who have gained experience in this process can advise people living in other neighbourhoods and get paid for their efforts as well. Inspired by a visit to Birmingham, several people from the Netherlands decided to found a European equivalent: R4R-Europe. This foundation, established in 2002, is involved in a range of activities.

Communicating and exchanging
Communication is being stimulated, networks are built. R4R-Europe organises international workshops in different European cities. Every two year there is a special conference: the Resident University. The first one was in The Hague, the Netherlands, and hosted 300 people. In september 2006 this event will take place in Birmingham, UK.

Examples of meaningful themes that can be tackled include public safety, the integration of ethnic minorities, teamwork with other parties (e.g. municipal administrations, housing corporations), neighbourhood development plans, organizing of urban neighbourhood residents, neighbourhood activities, etc.

European Residents Centre
The Resident Centre is based in the Haque, Tenierstraat 13B, 2526 NX.
Our centre is a meeting place for residents, residents' organisations, scholars and professionals.
It is the linking pin of a lot of inspiring projects. Amongst which the international workshops, master classes, conferences, and other activities that take place in different cities all over Europe.
R4R strongly believes that by meeting fellow residents and visiting successful projects, people inspire one another, thus renewing their convictions about the possibilities for making improvements in their cities.

Academic validation of residents' knowledge:
In order to identify the subjects of the themes and workshops of R4R there is a network of grassroot scholars from different cities and universities. These scholars 'validate' the experiences and knowledge and help residents to understand processes taking place in their neighbourhoods.

R4R-Europe has a large network of residents' organisations in different European cities like London (UK), Birmingham (UK), Dortmund (Germany), Copenhagen (Denmark), Antwerp (Belgium), Genua (Italy), The Hague, Rotterdam, Dordrecht, Amersfoort, Vlaardigen and other cities in the Netherlands. R4R-Europe will reinforce and intensify its growing network of contacts in the coming years. The focal point will be on the eastern and southern European countries. (top)