The Role Center received the highest grant from the Welfare Council

The Role Center received the highest grant

This year, the highest grant was awarded to The Role Center (Hlutverkasetur): 12 million króna annually for three years. The Role Center is an engagement center open to everyone, though most visitors are individuals dealing with mental, addiction, and behavioral issues. The goal of The Role Center is to improve quality of life, reduce isolation, and provide various types of assistance, such as aiding individuals in entering the general workforce, starting or finishing their education, finding meaningful roles, or participating in volunteer work. The center aims to enhance individuals' confidence in their own abilities and influence.

Numerous applications with 23 organizations receiving grants

This year, 62 grant applications were submitted, and 23 organizations were awarded grants. Eleven organizations received a general grant, nine received a one-year service agreement, and three received a three-year service agreement.

This year's grant committee consisted of Mayor Heiða Björg Hilmisdóttir, City Councilor Sandra Hlíf Ocares, and Rannveig Einarsdóttir, Director of Welfare. The grant committee assessed the applications based on seven criteria and scored them accordingly. The total grant amount was 47 million króna.

Here is the list of all organizations receiving grants this year:

General agreements:

• International Mental Health Day – 200,000 króna.
• Successful Aging (Farsæl öldrun) – 200,000 króna.
• The Icelandic Autistic Society – support groups – 800,000 króna.
• Parents' Village (Foreldraþorpið) – support for young people's welfare and safety – 300,000 króna.
• Men in Sheds (Karlar í skúrum), Breiðholt – 300,000 króna.
• Korpúlfarnir – planter boxes at Borgir – 500,000 króna.
• Choir activities for the elderly in Reykjavík – Songbirds – 180,000 króna.
• The ME Society of Iceland – education and promotional materials – 250,000 króna.
• The Red Cross in the Capital Area – friendship project – 500,000 kr.
• Togetherness and Soup (Samvera og súpa) – 350,000 króna.
• Friendly Chess Club (Vinaskákfélagið) – chess for individuals with mental disorders – 300,000 króna.

One-year service agreements for 2025:

• Campaign, an association for people with intellectual disabilities (Átak, félag fólks með þroskahömlun) – disability professionals – 2,000,000 króna.
• Bjarkarhlíð – enhancing service capacity to meet growing demand at Bjarkarhlíð – 6,000,000 króna.
• The Icelandic League Against Rheumatism – peer support and social activities for people with rheumatism – 1,000,000 króna.
• Sports Association Ösp – extra costs for athletes with special needs – 4,000,000 króna.
• National Association Þroskahjálp – information accessible to all – 3,000,000 króna.
• Mother’s Support Committee in Reykjavík – aid for those in need – 1,000,000 króna.
• Sjálfsbjörg, the Reykjavík Association of Physically Disabled People – social activities, counseling, and support – 1,000,000 króna.
• Sjónarhóll Counseling Center – counseling and support for parents of chronically ill and disabled children – 2,500,000 króna.
• Þorpið tengslasetur ehf. – The Dad Network – 1,000,000 króna.

Three-year service agreements, 2025-2027:

• AE Vocational Rehabilitation – The Role Center – 12,000,000 króna per year for three years.
• Attitude to Responsibility (Afstaða til ábyrgðar) – service agreement with Afstaða – 6,000,000 króna per year for three years.
• Support Society of Geysir Club – activity project for individuals with mental challenges living in residential cores and rehabilitation homes in Reykjavík – 4,000,000 króna per year for three years.