Background

Amaryllis is the organisation for social work and welfare in the municipality of Leeuwarden. We have been operating since 2015. Read more about the work we do and our history here. Amaryllis continues to develop in order to respond to the needs and possibilities of residents.

Our mission

Amaryllis Foundation:

  • STRENGTHENED residents, social networks and the social base
  • BIEDT:
    • basic support Wmo (Social Support Act)
    • light parenting support for young people
    • debt counselling (Wgs, Municipal Debt Relief Act)
    • social support for status holders (from 1 January 2026)
  • IS THE ACCESS TO:
    • additional support Wmo
      • by Windkracht 058 (combination of Aardema Care Group and InnZorg, and their subcontractors)
      • care providers via PGB
      • Protected housing
      • Sensory facilities
    • additional support youth, through the municipality's Youth Expert Team (JET)

Amaryllis carries out its work on behalf of the Municipality of Leeuwarden. Amaryllis was awarded the tender in cooperation with Incluzio BV. This nationwide organisation facilitates Amaryllis in a number of areas.

History

Founded in May 2014, Amaryllis could really take off in 2015 with 'welfare new style'. On 1 January 2015, municipalities became responsible for implementing the Participation Act, Youth Act and Wmo. The Municipality of Leeuwarden transferred many of the tasks to social neighbourhood teams, which together formed Amaryllis. On 1 January 2015, social workers officially joined Amaryllis. Not taking demand out of residents' hands, but increasing their self-reliance, That was the approach.

An important tool were the so-called kitchen table discussions. Instead of purely looking at what people were entitled to, a social worker would sit down with residents and their families to discuss what they really needed. ‘Doing what is necessary’ was therefore Amaryllis's motto.

The approach was: not taking the question out of their hands, but increasing the self-reliance of residents. That approach is still there, but more has been added. Since 2015, Amaryllis has undergone significant growth and development.

Growth

Amaryllis was a cooperative: a collaboration of the neighbourhood social teams in the municipality of Leeuwarden. With municipal redivisions came two village social teams at. First a team for the southern and later a team for the northern villages.

In 2019, Wellzo merged with Amaryllis. With this, Amaryllis gained also teams for youth work, volunteering and informal care. Amaryllis then became a foundation. Further community work back in the municipality of Leeuwarden. This is also being carried out by Amaryllis. And in order to offer residents meaningful daytime activities, Amaryllis set up Meet & Participate on.

Amaryllis also received other specialised teams or staff, such as for personal budgets, youth, early detection, collective working, severe mental disorders (a collaboration with GGZ Friesland) and coordinators for neighbourhood mediation and language support.

From 2026 onwards, Amaryllis was awarded a new task following a tender process: social support for status holders. From their second year in the municipality of Leeuwarden, they were able to turn to Amaryllis for assistance, just like other residents. Social support begins immediately from the first year and is focused on the integration of status holders.

Development

There has been increasing emphasis at Amaryllis on prevention, in which commitment to children and young people is also crucial. In addition, reciprocity an important theme.

Both have led Amaryllis to adopt no longer focuses only on vulnerable residents, but on all residents: people who could use help and people who want to do something for someone else. After all, all residents can sometimes need a helping hand. Moreover, we encourage people to think about each other, to do things with each other and for each other. Besides still doing what is needed together, Amaryllis' slogan is therefore now 'Together we are Leeuwarden'.

Another development is that we in addition to individual support, provide as much support as possible in groups. Apart from being efficient, it proves to be especially effective. For instance, participants share tips and experiences and realise that they are not the only ones with a certain problem.
Online support We also offer this, for example through the e-health programme Gezondeboel.

Thus, we are always responding to what is needed and possible, and remain committed to the strengthening residents, their social network and villages and neighbourhoods in the municipality of Leeuwarden.