Across the Netherlands, initiatives are emerging in which residents want to improve their living environment together. Think of neighborhood associations, district projects, community gardens, or energy cooperatives. These neighborhood and resident communities form the beating heart of social cohesion.
Yet it doesn’t always succeed in keeping that energy going. After an enthusiastic start, engagement often decreases, or the organization remains too dependent on a few active people.
At Unity Agency, we help local communities grow sustainably. We strengthen mutual connections, add structure, and ensure the community keeps running — even when the founders take a step back.
A resident community (or neighborhood community) is a group of people who feel connected to the same place: a district, neighborhood, or village. They not only share a residential area, but also a common interest: livability, safety, sustainability, or togetherness.
A strong neighborhood community:
We help resident groups, municipalities, and area developers turn separate initiatives into real communities — with support, structure, and enjoyment.
Every neighborhood is different. That’s why we start by listening and looking at what already exists. Then we build further on existing initiatives instead of reinventing everything.
Our approach consists of eight building blocks that together ensure lasting impact:
Target group analysis in the neighborhood
We research who lives there, what motivates people, and what they need. Through interviews, neighborhood surveys, and observation, we map the social dynamics.
👉 Community target group analysis
A supported strategy
Together with residents and stakeholders, we formulate a concrete plan: what do we want to achieve, and what makes this initiative valuable?
👉 Community concept and strategy development
Activating local ambassadors
We find the people who can get others moving — the “carriers” of the neighborhood. We give them support and tools to fulfill that role sustainably.
👉 Community ambassador program
Clear and accessible communication
From a neighborhood newspaper and WhatsApp group to newsletters and events — we ensure everyone knows what’s going on and feels welcome to participate.
👉 Community communication
Events that connect
Meeting strengthens trust. We organize small-scale as well as larger events that truly bring neighbors together.
👉 Community events
Engaging stakeholders and partners
We connect residents with municipalities, housing corporations, and entrepreneurs. This creates collaboration instead of separate initiatives.
👉 Community stakeholder and partner management
The right platform for local interaction
We help choose the digital channel that fits the neighborhood: from a Facebook group to a neighborhood app or community platform.
👉 Community platform selection and technology
Ongoing guidance and advice
We continue to support with monitoring, advice, and inspiration. This keeps the community active, even when there are changes in the board or among the key drivers.
👉 Community support and consulting
For an area development project, we guided the formation of a resident community around a new residential area. We brought the different interest groups together, developed a communication strategy, and organized neighborhood meetings. The result: more than 60% of residents became actively involved in initiatives around sustainability, green management, and safety.
Cooperation with the municipality and developers ran more smoothly than ever.
We believe the future of neighborhoods does not arise from the top down, but from within. When people get to know each other, trust grows, and that trust forms the basis for collaboration. A well-organized community strengthens not only the neighborhood, but also the people themselves — and therefore society as a whole.
Are you involved in a neighborhood initiative, housing corporation, or municipality and do you want to connect residents in a structural way? We help with research, strategy, communication, and guidance.
👉 Discover more about our community support and consulting
or see how we develop a community concept and strategy.
Together, we build neighborhoods where people truly know each other.
