Kavli Trust supports new model for young people at risk in Sweden

Kavli Trust has awarded the foundation Fryshuset NOK 4.6 million to further develop and scale a documented cross-sector model that provides young people outside education and employment with better and more holistic support.

Documented need and impact

Stronger collaboration between actors, and increased trust, hope for the future, and activity among young people: Fryshuset’s two-year pilot project in Nybro municipality, where the local government, police, and the non-profit sector coordinated their efforts for young people at risk, has shown very promising results.

With support from Kavli Trust, the model will be scaled to 15 additional municipalities in Sweden by the end of 2027.

– We are very pleased that Kavli Trust is supporting us. It allows us to offer more municipalities a working method that can help young people far from the labour market into jobs or education, with positive effects for both individuals and society, says Katarina Nilsson, Head of Work and Entrepreneurship at Fryshuset.

In Sweden, around 130,000 young people aged 16–29 are neither in education nor employment. Their challenges are often complex, including limited education, mental health issues, or disabilities, frequently combined with socio-economic barriers.

Relationship-based and holistic support

Public systems designed to help these young people are often specialised and poorly coordinated, making it difficult to provide comprehensive support. Fryshuset’s model, developed from insights gathered from young people themselves, addresses this challenge by placing dedicated support staff in each municipality.

Support staff are recruited from the non-profit sector, through youth organisations or other non-profit actors, as they often enjoy high levels of trust among the target group. This provides a less intimidating and more relationship-focused entry into the system.

Bridging to public services

Support staff help young people structure their daily lives and prepare a joint assessment. With consent, the individual’s challenges, goals, and aspirations are shared with relevant actors at a joint meeting, where tailored measures are agreed collaboratively.

The role is primarily to act as a trusted resource, building confidence, explaining information, and opening doors to systems and interventions that help young people move forward.

– Many young people slip through the net because no one sees the whole person or follows them closely over time. What is unique about this model is that relationships come first and it builds a bridge between the young people and the systems designed to help them. We are proud to support work that truly makes a difference in young people’s lives, says Ingrid Paasche, CEO of Kavli Trust.

A permanent part of the solution

To ensure predictable and long-term collaboration, local non-profit–public partnerships (IOPs) are established in each municipality, establishing the non-profit sector as a permanent, equal partner.

– Fryshuset’s model demonstrates what is possible when non-profit and public sectors work together in a structured way. Through relationship-building, close follow-up, and committed collaboration, young people at risk receive much better support into work, education, and community life, says Paasche.

Planned to be trialled in Norway

Once the model has been implemented in the new municipalities, Fryshuset’s sister organisation in Norway, Forandringshuset, will introduce and adapt the approach to a Norwegian context.

Facts about the project

• Kavli Trust has awarded Stiftelsen Fryshuset NOK 4.6 million to scale a model supporting young people not in education or employment.
• The model was tested in Nybro municipality, Sweden. The pilot strengthened collaboration between actors, increased trust among young people, and resulted in more participants engaging in activity, work, or education.
• The funding allows the model to be implemented in 15 new municipalities in Sweden by 2027.
• Around 130,000 young people in Sweden are currently outside both work and education.
• The model uses dedicated support staff from the non-profit sector, who follow young people closely and bridge them to public services.
• Relationship work, comprehensive assessment, and improved collaboration between services are central.
• The aim is to increase trust in public actors and get more young people into work or education, while establishing permanent collaboration structures through non-profit–public partnerships. In the long term, the initiative aims to reduce exclusion, empower young people, and lower social costs.
• The model will later be trialled in Norway through Fryshuset’s sister organisation, Forandringshuset.
• Fryshuset is a leading social actor working with and for young people. The foundation was established in 1984 and is a non-profit, politically and religiously independent organisation operating at nine locations across Sweden.