Project partners Rogaland County Council

Contact data
Eli Viten
tel: +47 51516699
e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Helga Idsøe Kloster
tel: +47 51516625
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Key words ageing society, lifestyle, health, physical activitiy, nutrition, coaching, community house, public services, digital health monitoring

Main problems to be solved (analysis) Finnøy Municipality is situated at the eastern end of the Boknafjord, between the towns of Stavanger and Haugesund in the county of Rogaland, Norway. Total land area is 106 km2 spread over 16 populated islands. Population density is 26.3 km2. The two largest islands are Ombo and Finnøy.

Figure 1 Finnøy Municipality

The combination of fertile soil and a favourable climate results in the islands being characterised by vigorous vegetation and a highly diversified wildlife. Farming employs 1/3 of the work stock of the Finnøy community. Finnøy farmers produce about 1/3 of Norway's total production of tomatoes. Agriculture is also a growing trade.

Archaeological findings in Dyrnes (Bjergøy) shows that people have lived here for 5-6000 years. One has to mention medieval churches, runes, graves and small castles. The opening of a 5.6 km subsea tunnel between Rennesøy and Finnøy in October 2009 marks the conclusion of over 20 years of planning. An arm of the tunnel between Hanasand and Ladstein will result in two of the most populated islands on Finnøy being linked to the mainland and will replace the present ferry service between Hanasand, Talgje and Ladstein. However the remaining islands will still be reliant on the ferry and speed boat services to the north and south of Finnøy. The time used to travel between Judaberg (Finnøy) and Hanasand (Rennesøy) will be reduced by approximately 50 minutes (including 10 minutes waiting). The total time between Judaberg and Stavanger will be reduced from one hour and 35 minutes (including waiting) to 35 minutes. The toll plaza will cost 22 euro each way for motorcars and 87 euro each way for heavy vehicles. The result of this dramatic change in communication on the population development of Finnøy will not be immediately apparent. It remains uncertain as to whether the cost of using the tunnel will be experienced as a barrier to increased settlement from the Stavanger region. It is anticipated that the tunnel debt will be payed back over a 25 year period.

Figure 2 The new communication system opened 2009

The size of the population of Finnøy Municipality was 2790 1.1.2009.

The population of Finnøy has decreased between 1.01.1998 and 1.01.2009, see Table 1. However in 2007 and 2008 population growth was positive. The im¬pact of major changes in the communication network of the municipality together of with the impact of the ongoing “finance crisis” on population growth will be interesting to monitor during the Vital Rural Area project period.

Table 1 Population development Finnøy municipality 1.01.1998 – 1.01.2008

1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Population 1.1 2848 2856 2865 2854 2822 2806 2809 2772 2729 2672 2711 2790 Births 32 29 32 38 35 31 28 29 24 33 30 Deaths 33 34 25 35 30 37 24 27 33 27 27 Netto natural growth -1 -5 7 3 5 -6 4 2 -9 6 3 In-migration 161 110 107 66 80 107 91 95 94 143 203 Out-migration 151 96 125 100 105 98 132 140 141 110 130 Netto migration 10 14 -18 -34 -25 9 -41 -45 -47 33 73 Total pop. Growth 8 9 -11 -32 -16 3 -37 -43 -57 39 79

[Source 2008 © Statistics Norway]

Table 1. Population structure: 1998 and 2008

The importance of attracting young families with children is critical to the future development of Finnøy. The growth in the numbers of elderly in the population will be the case regardless of which prediction one studies. 2008 marked the fact that for the first time in history more of the worlds’ population lived in urban areas than rural. Centralisation towards the local and regional centres continues but in a community such as Finnøy the contrast between the central areas of the municipality and the outlying islands in terms of population growth is probably the biggest challenge for services in the years to come.

All services are to be made available to all citizens regardless of where they live in a municipality. The cost of maintaining these services for Finnøy municipality is high when compared to compact urban areas. It is therefore of great value to work towards stimulating towards a healthy population experiencing population growth if services are to be maintained

The above facts are to be find in The field- and desktop research 2009 ( see enclosed) and identification of specific target groups and their specific needs came up with the following problems related to: - The ageing society - Reduction of tax income for municipalities due to smaller working population - A less healthy population (age and lifestyle related) - Geography. The high number of habitated islands of Finnøy Municipality is an administrative and budgeting challenge - The population in Finnøy has decreased in the past 10 years (1998 – 2008) - Beautiful nature and great possibilities for all kind of outdoor life

Policy frameworks to be dealt with/fitting in Finnøy Municipality is characterised by a de-centralised service structure. The long term effects of continued population decline on islands in the north of the municipality in terms of their population structure and service needs will be an especially important issue in regard to future development of services.

Aim of the project - Offer better services and reaching a wider segment of the population by using ICT tools - A healthy population. - Reducing lifestyle related illnesses, increase well being - Population increase - Reducing lifestyle related illnesses, increase well being - Creating new employment

(Expected) Results 1 A less healthy population – increase life style, heath, well being and service. This is performed as follows: Rogaland County Council (Rogaland fylkeskommune) together with Finnøy Municipality and stakeholders / experts have developed an interactive website to improve lifestyle and give a better service related to this, for the inhabitants. The website is active . The main goal is to offer a lifestyle course for 12 weeks and give information and individual guidance about nutrition, physical activity and health prevention and health promotion in general. And what is the result so far? (to the clients, innovative character and dissemination of this solution etc) In 2011/ 2012 there is significant focus on health issues on local, regional and national level because of new laws. From the Norwegian Government there is a new White paper called “The Coordination Reform” lead to 2 new laws about “Health and Care” and Public Health” The laws are effectuated from 1st of January 2012. Due to this process we have participated on national conferences and have discussed our participations in Vital Rural Area and our planned pilot activities.

Norwegian Institute of Public Health have in January 2012 presented new digital data portal with local, regional and national health statistics. We hope this new primary health statistics can be valuable in evaluation of the pilot activities.

2. Population increase – and creating new jobs, see WP 1 and 2

(Expected) outcome within the Work Package Offer a 12 weeks lifestyle course for inhabitants who want to change their lifestyle by using interactive website. It is also important to coordinate WP 1, 2 and 3 to accomplish overall and multidisciplinary initiative.

(Expected) outcome for the region as a whole (impact of the project) See above

Planning 2009 - 2013

Costs 199 000 Euro + ineligible costs: Approximately 100.000 Euro

Financing Interreg IVB: 30%. Rogaland County Council: 70%. Ineligible costs: Municipality of Finnøy, Rogaland County Council, Gjensidigestiftelsen (private funding), private (NGOs) and some state (national) financing. The ineligible funding is mainly related to establishing, signing and grading of paths/trails.

Implementation of the project (cf. CAA) which stakeholders were involved? - Innovation Centre, Ryfylke næringshage and The Districtscentre ICT businesses, Hesbynet AS and Hjelseth Computer. NGO, Finnøy IL and Ryfylke Livssgnist. The Ministry of Local Government

what process did you run through to fit the project into local conditions? - Invited inhabitants to SWOT analyses, the local newspaper was involved, the mayor and the chief municipal executive participated in the lifestyle course

how did you sustainably implement the project (locally, regionally)? - By picking the people who believed in the project and were enthusiastic and willing to implement the project into political decisions.

KEY QUESTIONS LIST

1 Which successes were achieved so far in the pilot project? - We have developed an interactive website and have arranged lifestyle courses for the inhabitants (approximately 130 persons to date) - There has been a focus in the municipality on a healthy lifestyle (outdoor life, physical activities, nutrition) - The local newspaper has played an active role - Use of ICT has improved the communication between the health staff and the participants on the lifestyle courses. They are able to communicate directly during the period of 12 weeks. The health staff can follow the progression and give guidance to the participants through the website. The participants don't have to travel to the community centre. - A critical success factor is financing the website and the lifestyle courses when project period is ended. We are in a dialog with Finnøy Municipality who are willing to continue the work after 31.12.2013. At the moment we are in the process of making a plan for the economic consequences after 2014.

2 What are the expected boundary conditions for the project to be implemented? - People that are living far away from facilities; knowledge on life style and health programs; interactive website tools

3 Which related projects can be studied or consulted (other innovative best practice examples) before starting to think on implementation? The implementation is already taking place and can be used by others as an innovative and best practice example.

4 What is the applicability / transferability of the project? - Innovation in health and e-health is important for the future. We believe the challenges according to lifestyle related diseases and an aging population is the same for all European Countries. The aspects of innovations are focusing on the use of ICT as our main tool and thereby to become a natural part of our infrastructure. Our aim is that ICT will optimize the level of services within the municipality of Finnøy and that the different, planned pilot activities will be more accessible and user friendly thanks to the new ICT tools. We sincerely believe that the effect of the new ICT tools will be of significant use for the individual inhabitant and visitor (tourists). Further, that this will act as a good example and will inspire other municipalities – nationally and internationally, to start similar programs.

5 Which tools does the project bring in to alleviate / help starting up implementation elsewhere? - Using our experiences and show the results of using ICT for improving the lifestyle

6 Sustainability a) How is/can the project be sustainably implemented? What is needed to reach this? - always use updated ICT tools and look for innovative solutions to improve the website and the competences - follow research results on subject - participate on national and international conferences on the subject

b) what are the benefits of the project seen from the Profit, Planet, and People side? - to have a better focus on health prevention and health promotion in general and empowerment, will in the long term give the people a better quality of live and a reduction in the health budget.