The Bridging the gap between government and people in the margins of society research group aims to bridge the gap between governments and citizens, particularly those at society’s margins. The goal is to help professionals and policymakers improve their skills and offer more tailored solutions. The research centers on 3 areas: more effective service provision, better organisation of learning and improvement and refining the research methodology.
About one-third of social spending goes to just 1% of households, most of which are known to the safety network. These households are seen by the government as difficult-to-reach groups: dropouts, care avoiders, former prisoners, addicts, people with mental health issues and at-risk youth. However, these individuals often blame the complex bureaucracy for offering little support. Professionals working with these groups must navigate the difficult task of balancing what is legally required, necessary, possible, and truly helpful. This requires practical wisdom—so how can it be developed?