These two centres are residential facilities for Special Childcare, subsidised by the Flemish Community.They house 23 and 12 children and adolescents between 0 and 18 years respectively. The youngsters are sent there by juvenile courts or the Special Childcare Committee. They are all minors whose upbringing has taken place under difficult circumstances.Each of these centres has its own task:'De Witte Berken'is a support centre where children and adolescents live for a short or long period in communities that take the place of the family. There is close cooperation with their actual families.Together with the minor in question and his context, 'De Wijzer'diagnoses the troubled circumstances of their upbringing and advises on further assistance. The youngsters remain here for a maximum of 60 days. 'De Wijzer'may be able to expand its capacity to 18 or 24.The two facilities are located on a large campus in the centre of the town, with an extensive green zone. It was formerly the grounds of a monastery. There is an urgent need for a study and renovation of the present buildings:
-'De Witte Berken'is housed in a single-storey pavilion built in the seventies and a converted terraced house. The buildings have been adapted several times on the basis of internal changes and reconversionplans. Its location on the site was also negatively influenced by the establishment of 'De Wijzer'. It is time the community building, the offices, all the other spaces and the green surroundings were thoroughly reviewed. The specific points in this respect are: small-scale homely character, integration into the green surroundings, safety, and supervision. Provision must be made for a residential community of 12 children from 0 to 14 years with, among other things, sufficient child-friendly play-space and studio flats for parental visits. For the future, provision must be made to accommodate a second community.
-'De Wijzer'is housed in old school buildings: a solid building with plentyof space and a gym. The location of the various rooms has to be reviewed, including moving the community rooms to the ground floor with access to the garden or courtyard, with the addition of offices,rooms for personal contacts, and rooms for daytime activities and time out. In the design, particular attention must be paid to the specific target group: very strong infrastructure, safety and supervision are very important elements. The possible expansion of capacity means we shall work in 2 or 3 communities divided by age: under-12s and over-12s. A clear distinction between the two is essential.
-Provide for the development of a common reception area for both facilities: sufficient reception rooms, a meeting room and offices. Low threshold, normal part of the street frontage, and attention to safety are the points of focus here.
Additional information: the sites are close to a stream and the subsoil is rather moist.