The DNA project responds to a need to improve the quality of life of people living and working in and visiting deprived neighbourhoods, in the 2 Seas area. It will contribute to an innovative solution, based on the empowerment of citizens, to take more ownership of the future of deprived areas. DNA will stimulate this heightened sense of ownership through initiatives in community safety, health and well-being and management of public space. In each activity, cross-border study visits will be organised, linking with workshops and local pilot schemes. By giving people the chance to take responsibility for their neighborhood and create opportunities to develop initiatives and to execute them themselves, the partnership wants to reinforce for a sense of ownership for the place these people live in. The long-term aim is to create safe and attractive neighborhoods which are nice places to live, work or spend free time in.The DNA project is based on a shared regional strategy focusing on the co-operation between citizens and local governments to find creative and new solutions. Emphasis will also be placed on the involvement of national and regional authorities. Expected Results: What are the key results of the project?Activity 1: Community Safety- Creation of 4 local boards- 9 pilot actions implemented related to nuisance, drugs, alcohol abuse, social cohesion, prevention, neighbourhood mediation and resident involvementActivity 2: Health & Well-being- Creation of 4 local taskforces on health and well-being and 1 cross-border taskforce.- Local definitions and a common European definition of “well-being of neighbourhoods”.- An instrument measuring the perception of well-being.- 8 pilot actions implemented related to health & well-beingActivity 3: Public Space- Creation of 4 local boards on public space- 6 pilot actions implemented related to the provision of facilities for children, the use of public space in deprived areas, more attractive streets, squares, efficient public space management, the complete make-over of empty and abandoned buildings/places.Are all partners and territories benefitting from the results?Target groups:These are the people living/working in, visitors or passers-by deprived neighbourhoods, the residents, the members of the resident groups, the members of the taskforce, but also the residents involved in local and cross-border activities, local entrepreneurs, shopkeepers, sme’s, entrepreneurs wanting to start and maintain their business in a deprived area.Beneficiaries:These are the fieldworkers, local, regional and national authorities. Local authorities too will benefit from better educated fieldworkers.Benefits to territory:Other European cities with a similar background of deprived areas will benefit from the expanded information sharing realised by the partnership. The partnership will develop a format for the study visits, write reports on the results, publish interviews, make films etc. All this will be made available to stakeholders throughout Europe.The policy report will be of benefit to the regional and national authorities, they can help implement the DNA-strategies. Fieldworkers will get the opportunity to gain experience and learn by doing through study visits, a taskforce and pilot actions. They will be able to apply what they’ve learnt both locally (pilot actions) and abroad (cross-border study visits), resulting in empowered residents and nicer neighbourhoods. They will support residents and entrepreneurs in developing and implementing new solutions. They will share solutions with colleagues elsewhere.What are the effects / outcomes for the territories involved?Antwerp:The deprived area targeted improved to a safe, attractive environment where residents, professionals, local traders, tourists and passers-by will feel at ease and enjoy spending their time. It will be worthwhile investing here.Kortrijk:Thanks to a tool to measure the perception of well-being, politicians and professionals will have a better understanding of what well-being means to residents. It will then be possible to enhance the living conditions of residents in deprived areas.Medway:Low-income residents and young people in the poor families will have better access to medical services. This will lead to healthier people in deprived areas mentioned. In the long run, the health conditions of low income residents will improve distinctively.Breda:De Geere will be a safer place thanks to more social control by the efforts of neighbourhood groups. De Geere will also supportyoung entrepreneurs start their business in isolated buildings having been given a second life.