Amsterdam Nieuw-West is the site of an ongoing exploration into how community knowledge might be more systematically considered in policy processes. The research collaboration Ontwikkeltraject Benutting van ErvaringsKennis (BEK), the Development Track for the Utilisation of Experience Knowledge, brings together the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and three grassroots organisations: Stichting Road of Hope, Stichting Home Empowerment (SHE), and Stichting Nadia Sbai. The collaboration examines ways in which experiential knowledge, grounded in lived experience, could inform decision-making related to the future development of the district, while recognising that its broader integration into policy remains a longer-term and uncertain process.
Road of Hope plays a central role in this process. Through five permanent programmes and several ongoing initiatives, the organisation connects diverse communities and supports individuals both practically and emotionally. BEK marks Road of Hope’s third research involvement and symbolises a new stage in its evolution: embracing research not merely as a complement to its work but as an integral form of advocacy, knowledge creation and community empowerment.
Why Recognition Matters
At the heart of the BEK development track lies a shared concern among the three participating organisations. Each believes that its unique strengths are insufficiently recognised by formal institutions and government bodies. Although different in scale and focus, these organisations operate in similarly accessible ways, rely heavily on experiential knowledge, and serve as crucial links between residents and larger, more formal service providers. Their work centres on nurturing people’s personal strengths and supporting them as they build more resilient networks around themselves. The project, therefore, seeks to understand how their distinctive contributions can be articulated more clearly and acknowledged more widely, while also exploring what truly sets their impact apart from that of formal organisations.
The conversation around impact has become particularly urgent. Literature on grassroots organisations indicates that, when recognition from formal institutions is lacking, strengthening the ability to demonstrate measurable outcomes, as well as building supportive networks, becomes essential. SHE is already active within the Informal Care Network Nieuw-West, which offers a solid foundation of support. However, the project partners have chosen to concentrate first on developing a deeper, more precise understanding of how to measure impact in ways that respect the uniqueness of informal community work while still aligning with the district’s expectations.
A Key Insight: The Bridge Function
This challenge was at the centre of a recent BEK meeting held on 10 November 2025, where external stakeholders joined the discussion. Participants explored the idea that informal organisations perform a vital “bridge function”: they prepare and guide individuals so that formal institutions can support them more effectively. Yet a major insight emerged, neither side has a clear view of what happens once someone is referred from an informal to a formal organisation, or the other way around. Whether individuals actually arrive, receive help and continue their journey remains largely unknown.
Another important distinction came into focus. Formal organisations typically work with an “entry and exit” system, where support ends once a specific issue is addressed. In contrast, informal organisations as SHE, maintain long-term relationships; people remain part of the community, even when the original problem has been resolved. Informal workers also explained that when formal assistance is needed but not yet available, they often provide temporary support to prevent situations from worsening, a stopgap solution that reflects their deep commitment to the individuals they serve.
This raised broader questions about collaboration. The district administration emphasised its interest in fostering cooperation between formal and informal organisations and acknowledged the complementary nature of their work. However, friction often arises, particularly around funding. Informal organisations shared examples of projects being assigned to larger organisations despite the smaller groups’ longstanding trust and familiarity with the target populations. The district responded by encouraging them to report such concerns more openly, noting that some of these issues had not been previously communicated.
What Comes Next
To advance the conversation, the district proposed organising a follow-up meeting that includes larger formal organisations, creating a space where all parties can better understand one another’s contributions and challenges, and where the progress of the BEK trajectory can be discussed collectively.
The BEK initiative stands as a significant step toward a more inclusive and equitable system of community support in Amsterdam Nieuw-West. By elevating the importance of lived experience and the work of informal organisations, it opens the door to a future where grassroots knowledge is not only acknowledged but actively shapes policy, ensuring that the voices of the community are heard, valued and integrated into the heart of public decision-making.