For new arrivals in Ludvika and Smedjebacken
As a new arrival in a country and a community, there is much that is different to what you are used to. We understand that you have many questions about how things work here. That is why we have tried to gather information which we believe can be of help when you are new in Sweden.
In this folder there are short texts about different areas that are important to know about. If you want more detailed information about any of the subjects there are several websites that have information about Swedish society in different languages. You can start by visiting www.informationsverige.se
List of fact sheets you will find in this welcome folder
• to-do list
• Migrationsverket (Swedish Migration Agency)
• Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency)
• Försäkringskassan (Social Insurance Agency)
• work
• housing
• finance
• health/medical care
• learning Swedish/education
• in emergency situations
• public transport
• social services (socialtjänsten) (the role of the social services, economic support, violence in close relationships)
• school and child care
• for parents (open pre-school, pre-school/school) (öppna förskolan, förskola/skola)
• for young people (youth guidance centre, BRIS, youth recreation centres, Convention on the Rights of the Child, areas of concern)
• municipal immigration service (invandrarservice)
• library
• culture and leisure.
To-do list for your initial time in Sweden
When you are new in Sweden and have got your residence permit, there are many practical things to consider. We have written a remember-to-do list to make it easier for you.
You do not need to:
• apply for child benefit if you have children under 16 years old. The first child benefit payment comes automatically after you and your child have received a residence permit, have been registered and Försäkringskassan have investigated if you have the right to child benefit.
• apply for study grants for children studying at upper secondary school (gymnasium) or extended child benefit for children 16 years old or older who are still in compulsory school (grundskola).
What you need to do is:
• notify Skatteverket to register yourself in the population register at your new address in the municipality and get the last 4 digits in your Swedish personal identity number
• apply for an ID card
• get a bank account
• get home insurance with an insurance company.
You may also need to:
• sign in at Arbetsförmedlingen for the introduction programme (etablering) if you are between 20 and 65 years old, or if you are between 18 and 19 years old and have no parents in Sweden
• apply for housing allowance at Försäkringskassan
• apply for parental benefit with Försäkringskassan if you are home with your child instead of working, studying or seeking work
• register with SFI, Swedish for Immigrants, and civic orientation (samhällsorientering)
• get on the housing queue with the local housing companies
• get your child onto the queue for pre-school (förskola)/leisure-time centre (fritidshem).
Migrationsverket (Swedish Migration Agency)
In Sweden, Migrationsverket is the authority that considers applications from people who want to live in Sweden, need a visa or residence permit to visit the country, seek protection from persecution or get Swedish citizenship.
The forms are in Swedish only. To get help with filling in forms you can book an appointment at Migrationverket’s office in Borlänge. You can book an appointment on the website migrationsverket.
se
More information
Tel: 077-123 52 35 (service in Swedish and English) Monday to Friday: 08.00-16.00
Website: www.migrationsverket.se
Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency)
Skatteverket is responsible for taxation, property taxation, civil registration and registration of estate inventories. Skatteverket issues ID cards for persons registered to live in Sweden and monitors debts owed to the State.
Civil registration
As soon as you receive your residence permit you must contact Skatteverket to register in the
population register. You register by a personal visit to one of Skatteverket’s service offices. All of your family who are moving to Sweden must go with you to the service office, including children.
If you live in Ludvika and Smedjebacken the nearest service office is in Ludvika.
When you visit Skatteverket’s service office you must bring:
• passport
• Swedish residence permit card
• any documents such as marriage certificate, birth certificate, etc., from your home country.
ID Card
You need a Swedish identity document to prove who you are. This may be needed in many different situations, such as at a bank or when visiting a hospital or a healthcare centre. You must personally visit a Skatteverket service office to be able to apply for an ID card. You can also have the photograph needed for the ID card taken there.
To be able to apply for an ID card you must:
• be registered in the Swedish population register
• be at least 13 years old
• be able to show proof that you have paid the application fee for the ID card
• be able to show who you are (prove your identity)
• if you are under 18 years old, you must have consent from your guardian.
Skatteverket’s service office in Ludvika and Smedjebacken does not issue identification/ID cards.
To obtain an identification/ID card, the nearest Skatteverket service office is in Borlänge.
More information
Skatteverket, Servicekontor Ludvika Address: Storgatan 16, Ludvika Tel: 077 -156 75 67
Skatteverket, Servicekontor Borlänge Address: Stationsgatan 2, Borlänge Tel: 077 -156 75 67
Read more at: www.skatteverket.se
Information in other languages: www.skatteverket.se/otherlanguages
Försäkringskassan (Social Insurance Agency)
Försäkringskassan is an authority that pays out money to families with children, the sick and people with disabilities. The money is called compensation. Försäkringskassan’s task is to decide on and pay out a large part of the benefits included in social security. At Försäkringskassan you can get help with applying for housing allowance, pregnancy and parental benefits and sickness benefit, among other things. Swedish social insurance covers virtually everyone who lives or works in Sweden.
You have the right to certain allowances by living in Sweden. Other allowances require you to work in Sweden.
On Försäkringskassan’s website you can find information in different languages that is designed for you as a new arrival. Information is available in Swedish, English, Finnish, Arabic, Dari, Tigrinya and Somali.
You can book an appointment in your language at www.forsakringskassan.se
More information
Försäkringskassan
Address: Storgatan 16 A, Ludvika More information is available at:
www.forsakringskassan.se/privatpers/flytta-till-arbeta-studera-eller-nyanland-i-sverige
Work
Arbetsförmedlingen (Public Employment Service)
Arbetsförmedlingen is Sweden’s largest employment service. Arbetsförmedlingen’s most important task is bringing together employers and job seekers. Arbetsförmedlingen can be found across the whole country and all services are free of charge. Arbetsförmedlingen is the authority responsible for the introduction of new arrivals in the labour market.
To get in contact with Arbetsförmedlingen, you can phone, email or chat. The people answering speak Swedish and English. You can also book a meeting using an interpreter in your language via Arbetsförmedlingen’s customer service. If you are included in the introduction programme, Arbetsförmedlingen has services in Arabic, Persian, Somali, Tigrinya and Russian over the phone.
More information is available at www.arbetsformedlingen.se
Start a business
If you want to start a business you can contact AB Samarkand2015 in Ludvika.
You can also contact Nyföretagarcentrum (Enterprise Agency) which has business start-up courses in different languages.
More information
Arbetsförmedlingen
Address: Storgatan 16, Ludvika Tel: 077 -160 00 00
Website: www.arbetsformedlingen.se AB Samarkand2015
Address: Fredsgatan 27, Ludvika Tel: 0240-860 40
Website: www.samarkand2015.com
Nyföretagarcentrum Ludvika-Smedjebacken Address: Carlavägen 21, Ludvika
Tel: 0240-144 60
Email: ludvika@nyforetagarcentrum.se Website: www.nyforetagarcentrum.se/ludvika
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nyaentreprenorerludvika
Housing
In Ludvika and Smedjebacken there are two large housing companies (bostadsbolag) that rent out accommodation, Ludvikahem in Ludvika and Bärkehus in Smedjebacken. You can also contact smaller, private housing companies. To purchase a house or flat
you can contact an estate agent.
Important to keep in mind
Some housing companies, such as Ludvikahem, use a queue system where you collect points. The longer you have been in the queue, the more points you have and the greater the chances that you will get an apartment. Other housing companies do not have queue systems, instead you register an expression of interest if there is a vacant apartment that interests you. Contact the relevant housing company or go to the website to see what conditions apply. Remember that it can take several years before you have enough points to be offered a rented apartment.
More information
Ludvikahem
Tel: 0240-869 00 Email: info@ludvikahem.se Website: www.ludvikahem.se Bärkehus
Tel: 0240 -66 88 00
Email: barkehus@smedjebacken.se Website: www.barkehus.se
Kopparleden
Tel: 08-120,322 15 Email: info@kopparleden.se Website: www.kopparleden.se Farstukvisten
Tel: 0240-185 00
Email: info@farstukvisten.se Website: www.farstukvisten.se Sunnanbo kb
Tel: 070 -318 58 06
Email: www.sunnanbo.se/kontakt.html Website: www.sunnanbo.se
More information about different landlords in Ludvika:
www.hyrabostad.se/ludvika
More information about different landlords in Smedjebacken:
www.hyrabostad.se/smedjebacken Properties for sale:
hemnet.se
Finance
Get a bank account
In order to receive payments such as wages, allowances and benefits from Försäkringskassan, loans from CSN (Board of Student Finance), etc., you need to get a bank account.
You can choose a bank yourself. Swedbank, Nordea, Handelsbanken and Länsförsäkringar have offices in Ludvika. Norrbärke Sparbank has an office in Smedjebacken. To open a bank account you must first have a Swedish ID card that you take to the bank when you want to open an account.
When you have opened a bank account you can manage your account via internet banking or by phone. You will get more information from the bank you choose.
BankID
BankID is an e-identification that you use when you need to prove your identity, such as at the bank, with Försäkringskassan or CSN. There are three different types: BankID on file, BankID on card and Mobile BankID.
You order your BankID from your internet bank. You also need to install BankID’s security programme/app, which is required for your BankID to work.
Your BankID is personal, only you should use it.
For more information in Swedish and English see www.bankid.com
More information
Bank Offices Ludvika Länsförsäkringar Bank
Address: Storgatan 32, Ludvika Nordea
Address: Carlavägen 12, Ludvika Handelsbanken
Address: Storgatan 26, Ludvika Swedbank
Address: Storgatan 15, Ludvika Bank Offices Smedjebacken Norrbärke Sparbank
Address: Hamngatan 2, Smedjebacken More information is available at:
www.swedbank.se | www.nordea.se | www.handelsbanken.se www.lansforsakringar.se | www.norrbarke-sparbank.se
Healthcare
When you or a family member get sick, you should firstly go to your healthcare centre (vårdcentral).
At certain times, such as evenings and weekends, the healthcare centre is closed. If you need care quickly, you can go to an out-of-hours clinic (jourmottagning) or emergency clinic (akutmottagning).
Find out from your healthcare centre which emergency room is nearest your home, or read the healthcare centre’s website on the internet.
Choice of healthcare centre (vårdcentral)
You can choose which healthcare centre you and your family will belong to. Many people choose the healthcare centre nearest their home. You can choose between public and private healthcare cen- tres. The first time you go to the healthcare centre, you will be helped to register there. If you do not actively choose a healthcare centre, you will be automatically registered with the healthcare centre nearest to where you live. You can change healthcare centre at any time if, for example, you move. If you want to change healthcare centre, you go to the healthcare centre you want to change to.
Out-of-hours clinic (jourmottagning)
If you become sick when the healthcare centre is closed you should firstly contact Sjukvårdsrådgiv- ningen (medical advice service) by calling 1177 for guidance. The healthcare centre has its out-of- hours clinic at Ludvika hospital.
Emergency clinic (akutmottagning)
The emergency clinic is open around the clock. You go to the emergency clinic if you have a danger- ous injury or acute illness. There can be long waiting times at the emergency room. At the emergency clinic, the person who is most sick or injured is treated first. Do not go to the hospital’s emergency clinic without first contacting Sjukvårdsrådgivningen. If you are not seriously ill or injured, you should instead contact your healthcare centre or out-of-hours clinic.
Family centre (familjecentral)/Child health centre (barnavårdscentral)
The VillGott family centre in Ludvika and the child health centre in Smedjebacken are meeting places for prospective parents and families with children 0-6 years old. The family centre includes an open pre-school, social services, midwives, child health centre and child/reproductive health psycholo- gists. The family centre/child health centre offers all children 0-6 years old an assessment of the child’s development, breastfeeding advice to parents, vaccinations, health dialogues and advice and support in active parenting. Child health care is free of charge.
Midwife (barnmorska) and maternity clinic (förlossningsmottagning)
Many hospitals have a midwifery clinic (barnmorskemottagning) where you can go for advice, exami- nation and care when you are pregnant. The clinic offers you checks during pregnancy, contraception advice, gynaecological health check-ups and advice for menopausal problems. The clinic also offers training for prospective parents. The hospital/maternity ward (BB) you give birth at is decided in con- sultation with your midwife. The nearest maternity ward in Dalarna is at Falu hospital.
You should always call before going to the maternity ward. You can contact them on 023-49 21 76 and 023-49 22 95.
Read more at www.ltdalarna.se/Halso--och-sjukvard/Specialiserad-vard/
Kvinnosjukvard/Falun/Forlossningsavdelningen
Youth Guidance Centre (ungdomsmottagning)
Youth guidance centres are open for young people from 13 to 23 years old, and are for young people who have questions about sex, health and relations. Guidance centres are free of charge. At a youth guidance centre there are usually midwives, counsellors, psychologists, nurses, gynaecologists and doctors.
You can find contact details on the back of this paper.
More information
Healthcare centres
Vårdcentral Ludvika-Grängesberg Address: Ludvika Hospital, Ludvika Tel: 0240 -49 51 00
Vårdcentral Sunnansjö
Address: Sjukstugevägen 3, Sunnansjö Tel: 0240 -49 57 00
Smedjebackens vårdcentral
Address: Bergslagsvägen 11, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240 -49 58 00
Engelbrekt Ludvika
Address: Engelbrektsgatan 20, Ludvika Tel: 0240 -69 51 00
Engelbrekt Söderbärke
Address: Bärkevägen 28, Söderbärke Tel: 0240 -69 51 00
Family centre/Child health centre Familjecentralen VillGott
Address: Ljunghällsvägen 1, Ludvika Tel: 0240 -49 51 00
Barnavårdscentral Smedjebacken
Address: Bergslagsvägen 11, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240 -49 58 00
Midwife and maternity clinic
Vårdcentral Ludvika-Grängesberg (Barnmorskeavdelningen, floor 7) Address: Ludvika Hospital, Ludvika
Tel: 0240 -49 52 84 Vårdcentral Engelbrekt
Address: Engelbrektsgatan 20, Ludvika Tel: 0240 -69 51 26
Website: www.vcengelbrekt.se Mödravården Smedjebacken
Address: Bergslagsvägen 11, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240 -49 58 36
Youth guidance centres
Ungdomsmottagningen Ludvika (entrance to the courtyard) Address: Carlavägen 34, Ludvika
Tel: 0240-867 60
Ungdomsmottagningen Smedjebacken Address: Vasagatan 18E, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240-762 26
Learning Swedish
Learning the language of the country you live in is important, not just to get a job or to be able to study, but just as much to become part of society and to get to know the culture of the new country.
There are different ways to learn the Swedish language.
SFI – Swedish for immigrants
Swedish for immigrants, SFI, is a high quality language education that gives adults with a mother tongue other than Swedish basic knowledge of the Swedish language. If you are over 16 years old, resident in Sweden and lack basic knowledge of Swedish, you have the right to study Swedish for immigrants. You can also study at a distance if you want to combine your studies with work or work experience.
For more information www.vbu.se/svenska-for-invandrare
Swedish as a second language
The subject Swedish as a second language gives students with mother tongues other than Swedish the opportunity to develop their spoken language ability. Swedish as a second language can be studied at both compulsory and upper secondary school level.
For more information www.vbu.se/svenska-som-andrasprak
Language friend (Språkvän)
The idea of the language friend programme is for Swedes and people with a foreign background to be able to meet on equal terms in order to learn from and enrich one another. Practice Swedish and get to know Swedish society by getting a
language friend.
Learning Swedish by yourself
Learn Swedish by yourself. With several different utilities and tools, you can practice Swedish yourself or with others.
www.informationsverige.se www.sprakkraft.org
www.pratstart.se/lara-sig-svenska/
www.sfipaddan.se
More information
Ludvika municipality
Website: www.ludvika.se/integration Smedjebacken municipality
Website: www.smedjebacken.se/integration
In emergency situations
112 (rescue service, ambulance, police)
The emergency number 112 should be used in emergency situations where there is a danger for life, property or the environment.
An emergency is when you need urgent help from ambulance, rescue service, police, air, sea or mountain rescue, a duty priest or information on poisoning.
When you become ill you should firstly call 1177 to get advice about your condition.
Visit www.1177.se for more information.
More information on important phone numbers is available at www.sosalarm.se
Threats and violence
Women subject to threats and violence and in need of help can call Kvinnofridslinjen (domestic abuse hotline) around the clock on 020-50 50 50.
Women can also call Terrafem. 50 different languages are spoken there. Terrafem is open 08.00–
17.00 on weekdays and calls are free of charge. You can call them on 020-52 10 10.
In Ludvika-Smedjebacken there is a women's and girl’s support centre (kvinno- och tjejjour) with knowledge, experience and willingness to give support to women and children in difficult situations.
You can contact them on 0240-199 10.
It is important that others know what you are the victim of. Therefore, always get in touch with the individual and family care (familjeomsorgen) facility in Ludvika on 0240-860 00 (switchboard), and Smedjebacken on 0240-66 00 00 (switchboard). Ask to be put through to the facility’s reception telephone for adults or children depending on what the matter concerns.
You can also contact Ludvika municipality’s outpatient facility (öppenvårdsmottagning) for violence in close relationships. They offer advice, crisis management and conversational support for those subject to or those who subject others to or who have witnessed violence in close relationships. They have phone hours on Mondays 10.30–11.30. You can contact them on 070-287 52 68.
Read more at www.ludvika.se/omsorgstod/valdochhot
From the social services (socialtjänsten) in Smedjebacken you can get help and support from a social service worker in the adult group at the individual and family care department. You can also call anonymously for advice. Visits to a social service worker are made by appointment, phone 02040-66 00 00 (switchboard). Social service workers have telephone hours all weekdays 08.30–09.30 except Thursdays. At other times call the social service office (socialkontoret) reception 0240-66 03 35.
IPA (Important Public Announcement)
In order to quickly warn the public in serious situations that may involve immediate risks of injury to life, property or the environment, the possibility exists to warn the public by siren.
The alarm sounds for 7 seconds followed by 14 seconds silence, repeated for at least two minutes.
• go indoors
• close doors, windows and ventilation
• listen primarily to the local radio on P4 for more information.
When the danger is over, the “All Clear” signal begins, an approx- imately 30 second long signal. The “Important Announcement”
and “All Clear” signals are tested at 15.00 on the first non-holi- day Monday in March, June, September and December.
Information is also given by radio when testing takes place.
Public transport
In our area there are local and regional bus services, trains, school transport, mobility services and other forms of transport.
You need to buy a ticket or a commuter card (pendelkort) to travel.
You can buy train tickets by going to www.sj.se or by downloading SJ’s app.
With Dalatrafik’s monthly card (periodkort) you can travel by both train and bus.
Dalatrafik’s single tickets and cards topped up with credit (reskassa) are not valid on trains.
You can buy bus tickets on the bus with a credit card, top up a card with credit and buy from your mobile phone with the Dalatrafik app. Bus tickets can also be bought from a machine.
These are located at Stationsgatan in Borlänge, Knutpunkten in Falun, Hedemora resecentrum, Ludvika resecentrum and Mora resecentrum. Here you can top up your travel card with a time period or credit and also buy single tickets. You pay with a bank card or credit. You can also buy bus tickets in some shops.
To see where your nearest point of sale is, visit dalatrafik.se/
forsaljningsstallen
More information
www.dalatrafik.se | www.sj.se | www.resrobot.se | www.swebus.se | www.nettbuss.se
Social services (Socialtjänst)
Economic support (försörjningsstöd)
Many people at some time have economic difficulties and for many people there is help available.
You have the right to economic support if you are not able to support yourself or meet your needs in other ways. Economic support is not unconditional. There are several things that affect your right to receive economic support. At the social services department (socialtjänsten) you can find information on financial and consumer advice and economic support.
Family counselling service (familjerådgivning)
The family counselling service can help you with relational problems. There may be problems in the relationship involving, for example, frequent arguments, adultery or economic matters. The family counselling service can also help with relationship problems between children and adults or close relatives. The family counselling service provide professional secrecy, do not keep written records and you can seek help anonymously. You will find the family counselling service in Ludvika and Smedjebacken. Contact the municipality’s family counselling on 0240-862 01.
Violence and threats in close relationships
Violence in close relationships can involve exercising power by controlling, hitting or threatening.
In Sweden it is forbidden to use threats and violence against others. It is a violation of human rights and a criminal act. The use of violence in the family is therefore also forbidden. Violence in relationships includes all forms of violence that may occur between related parties. Related parties means both heterosexual and same sex relationships, as well as siblings and other family relationships. This means it is forbidden to hit one’s child or partner. Violence in the home can be physical, psychological, economic, material or sexual. Violence relating to honour is forbidden in Sweden. Here, everyone has the right to decide over their own body, their sexuality and choice of partner, their life and their future. Are you a victim of violence or threats? Whether you are a man, woman or child, you may need support and help.
The municipalities’ social services have the ultimate responsibility for providing support and help to those children, women and men living with violence in close relationships. The social services also has an obligation to help victims of violence and threats by providing support against continued violence through, for example, sheltered accommodation.
More information
Economic support Ludvika
Individ- och familjeomsorgen, Stöd och försörjning Address: Biskopsvägen 10, Ludvika
Tel: 0240-860 00 (switchboard) Economic support Smedjebacken Individ- och familjeomsorgen
Address: Vasagatan 14, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240 -66 03 35
School and child care
Child care younger children
All Sweden’s municipalities have municipal child care (barnomsorg). There may also be private and independent child care managed by organisations or companies. Child care involves educational activities for younger children.
Open pre-school (öppna förskolan)
An open pre-school is a meeting place for parents on parental leave and their children. Open pre- schools have trained staff and are good places to meet other parents and children.
Pre-school (förskola)
Children aged 1-5 years old have the right to go to pre-school or family day nursery (familjedaghem).
Pre-school is also called day nursery (daghem) or day care (dagis). It is a place where children aged 1-5 years old can go in the daytime before they begin pre-school class (förskoleklass) or first year at school. To get a place at a pre-school and a leisure-time centre (fritidshem), you the parent must apply for a place for your child. You do this with your municipality. You must do it well in advance.
Pre-school class (förskoleklass) and school introduction for six-year-olds (sexårsverksamhet)
All children are offered a place in a pre-school class in the year of their sixth birthday. This is also called school introduction for six-year-olds. In pre-school class, the children prepare for compulsory school (grundskola) before they start the first year.
Leisure-time centre (fritidshem)
Children who are 6-12 years old have the right to go to a leisure-time centre before and after school.
Their parents must work or study in order for the child to have the right to go to the leisure-time centre.
Family day nursery (familjedaghem)
Family day nursery, also called educational care, involves educationally trained staff who accept children into their homes. They provide care to the children and have pre-school facilities with educational activities. Children who go to school can go to a family day nursery after school. This then functions as a leisure-time centre.
More information
Do you have any concerns about child care and school? Contact:
Ludvika municipality
Social- och utbildningsförvaltningen Tel: 0240-860 00 (switchboard) Smedjebacken municipality
Familje- och utbildningsförvaltningen Address: Vasagatan 14, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240 -66 02 10
School and child care
Compulsory school (grundskola)
Children attend elementary school from the autumn term of the year of their seventh birthday.
Compulsory school in Sweden is nine years long. This means that the child must go to school and you as a parent are obliged to ensure that your child is present. This is called “skolplikt” (compulsory schooling). Teaching and books are free for all children in compulsory school. The children also get lunch at no charge. All teaching is mixed-sex and compulsory. The schools are also free from religious elements, which means that your child must participate in all education regardless of religious or cultural belonging and belief.
Parents have the right to choose school for their children. The child always has the right to go to a school in the area you live in. If you want to choose a different school, you contact the principal of the school you are interested in. The child can start at the new school if there is a place available.
If your child needs extra help, and for any reason is not able to go to the normal compulsory school, there are schools for children with learning disabilities (särskola) and special schools (specialskola).
Special school is for children who, for example, have hearing or sight impairments. School for children with learning disabilities is for children with cognitive or psychological disabilities that may be inherited or acquired. In these schools, students get extra help and support in their education.
Language training
Children have the right to home language instruction (hemspråksundervisning) if one or both parents have a mother tongue other than Swedish. To have the right to home language instruction, the child should have a basic knowledge of the language and use it every day at home. Students with a mother tongue other than Swedish also have the right to education in Swedish as a second language. This is available for both beginners and for students who can already speak Swedish.
Preparatory class (förberedelseklass)
For children newly arrived in Sweden there is a preparatory class. Students get to practice Swedish there and are taught in different subjects. The aim is for the student to be able to move to normal education in compulsory school as soon as possible.
For young people
Child and youth rights
Children and youths in Sweden are protected by international and national laws. Sweden takes children’s rights and protection against violence and threats very seriously. In Sweden it is illegal to threaten or hit children, so-called corporal punishment.
Convention on the Rights of the Child
Sweden is a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, rules that many countries have agreed on. In the Convention on the Rights of the Child, there are rules to protect the human rights of children. The Convention states that all children have the same rights and are of equal value. No one should suffer discrimination. The child has the right to protection against physical or psychological violence and against abuse or exploitation by parents or other guardians. The child has the right to be protected against all forms of sexual abuse and from being exploited in prostitution and pornography. No child shall be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading
punishment or treatment. No child may illegally or arbitrarily be deprived of their freedom. The child victims of neglect, exploitation, negligence, torture, armed conflict or other inhuman treatment have the right to rehabilitation and social reintegration.
You can find more information on the Convention on the Rights of the Child atbarnkonventionen.se
BRIS - Children’s Rights in Society
Children’s Rights in Society (BRIS) is an organisation that helps children and youths who have problems or concerns. If you are under 18 years old, BRIS is free to call and you can talk about anything. You will be able to talk to an adult who will listen to you.
Calling BRIS is completely anonymous, your parents do not find out that you have called and the staff at BRIS do not see where you are calling from. You can call BRIS on 116 111.
Visit their website at www.bris.se
Honour related violence and force
Violence relating to honour is forbidden in Sweden. In Sweden, everyone has the right to decide over their own body, their sexuality and choice of partner, their life and their future. In Sweden it is forbidden to use threats and violence against others. Nor may you be forced to do something against your will, such as marriage or genital mutilation. It is a violation of human rights and a criminal act.
The use of violence in the family is therefore also forbidden.
In the case of acute danger, threat or violence, call the police on 112.
It is important that others know what you are the victim of so that you can get help. Therefore, always make contact with the individual and family care (individ- och familjeomsorgen) facility on 0240-860 00 (Ludvika) and 0240-66 00 00 (Smedjebacken). The phone numbers go to the municipalities’ switchboard, ask there to be connected to the reception phone for children.
Youth recreation centres (fritidsgårdar)
There are five youth recreation centres in Ludvika municipality which, if you are in year 6 or higher, you are most welcome to visit. Young people come here to socialise and have fun together. For opening hours, addresses and events see www.ludvika.se/ung. There is no youth recreation centre in Smedjebacken.
Youth Guidance Centre (ungdomsmottagning)
The youth guidance centre is for young people who have questions about sex, health and
relationships. The youth guidance centres are open for young people from 13 to 23 years old. Visiting the youth guidance centre is free of charge. At a youth guidance centre there are usually midwives, counsellors, psychologists, nurses, gynaecologists and doctors.
More information
Youth guidance centres
Ungdomsmottagningen Ludvika (entrance to the courtyard) Address: Carlavägen 34, Ludvika
Tel: 0240-867 60
Ungdomsmottagningen Smedjebacken Address: Vasagatan 18E, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240-762 26
Help and Advice
UMO is a website for those between 13 and 25 years old. At UMO you can find answers to your questions about sex, health and relationships. You can find it at umo.se
Are you finding things tough and having thoughts you need help with, do you want to hurt yourself or others? Get in touch with the child and adolescent psychiatry (barn- och ungdomspsykiatrin) facility.
At the website bup.se you can find your nearest clinic and phone number.
Busta on-call youth facility (Busta ungdomsjour) is for those who have been or are victims of sexual abuse or who simply want more information about how to protect themselves from adults seeking contact with children for sexual purposes. Or perhaps you have a friend that is a victim of sexual abuse and does not know how to handle the situation? Read more at www.atsub.se/busta- ungdomsjour
Information about alcohol and drugs and their effect on the body and how you can resist group pressure or deal with abuse in the family can be found at www.drugsmart.com
Everyday friend (Jourhavande kompis) is a chat hotline for everyone up to 25 years old. On the chat hotline, you decide what you want to talk about. You can come here to talk about anything you want.
Everyday friend is there for you! Read more at www.jourhavandekompis.se
The municipality’s immigration service (invandrarservice)
Immigration service and Frändskapshuset
For new arrivals in Sweden there can be lots to keep track of. You can turn to us at the immigration service for advice and support.
You will get help to find your way in Swedish society. At the immigration service, you will encounter an open, competent, multilingual and easily accessible service that gives advice, support and information to the municipalities’ inhabitants in migration, integration and social issues. When you need support and help with specific issues, you can turn to Frändskapshuset, where your questions will be answered or you will be told where to go for help.
Frändskapshuset is a meeting place for Swedes and immigrants regardless of background. Everyone is welcome to meet and and socialise here, to get to know each other and share their experiences socially, linguistically and culturally. Frändskapshuset works with immigration service and public information. You can turn to Frändskapshuset if you wonder how Swedish society works, need help to understand information you have received or if you have other questions as a new arrival.
Course in civic orientation (samhällsorientering)
Civic orientation should begin as soon as possible after you have been registered as a resident in the municipality. In this course you will learn what it is like to live in Sweden and how Swedish society works. The course is free for you to participate in and compulsory if you are involved in the introduction programme. This applies to those who are older than 18 and younger than 65 years old and are
registered as resident in one of our municipalities. It does not apply to citizens of an EEA country or Switzerland or to those in upper secondary school. You can sign up at Frädskapshuset.
Civic orientation in Ludvika and Smedjebacken comprises of an 86 hour civic orientation programme that takes place over a three month period. The civic orientation programme consists of two parts:
a 60 hour basic education and a 26 hour locally adapted civic orientation.
More information
Immigration service ludvika.se/invandrarservice
smedjebacken.se/invandrarservice
Frändskapshuset is open Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).
Frändskapshuset Centrum
Address: Fredsgatan 10, Ludvika Tel: 0240-863 89
Frändskapshuset
Address: Vasagatan 20, Smedjebacken Tel: 0240-704 42
Library (bibliotek)
There are libraries in Smedjebacken and Ludvika, with several branches across the municipalities.
At the library you can borrow books, films, music, photocopy, scan and print material, read newspapers and magazines, and much more.
You can also make interlibrary loans from the International Library in Stockholm. The International Library has books in more than a hundred languages. The library is a part of the Stockholm City Library.
The International Library is also a loan centre for the whole country and borrowers who cannot visit the library can turn to their local library to order books from its collections – www.interbib.se
More information
Biblioteket i Ludvika
Address: Engelbrektsgatan 3, Ludvika Tel: 0240-862 97
Biblioteket Smedjebacken
Address: Malmgatan 4, Smedjebacken Branches in Ludvika municipality
Fredriksberg
Address: Tyforsvägen 4, Fredriksberg Tel: 0240 -56 56 41
Grängesberg
Address: Örabergsvägen 1, Grängesberg Tel: 0240 -56 58 01
Nyhammar
Address: Biblioteksvägen 5, Nyhammar Tel: 0240-56 58 98
Sunnansjö
Address: Solgärdet, Hyttvägen 39, Sunnansjö Branches in Smedjebacken municipality Söderbärke
Address: Kyrkskolan, Klockarvägen 5, Söderbärke The International Library
Address: Odengatan 59, Stockholm
Culture and leisure
In Ludvika and Smedjebacken municipalities there is a wide range of activities and cultural experiences available.
In the municipalities you will find cabins, mines, art exhibitions and handicraft workers, folk
museums, venues for ice hockey, bandy and football and opportunities for downhill and cross country skiing and ice skating. There are many fine fishing waters here and for the golf enthusiast there is an 18-hole and a 9-hole golf course. There are opportunities for cycling, canoeing and hiking in the beautiful countryside.
To find out more about the activities available in your municipality you can visit the municipality’s website.
www.ludvika.se/upplevagora
www.smedjebacken.se/upplevagora
For tourist information, go to www.visitdalarna.se
There are also many associations in our municipalities where you can engage in activities such as football, horse riding, gymnastics, hiking, art and much more. When you join an association you pay a membership fee. Along with the other members, you help to run the association.
If you want to know what associations there are in your municipality, you can visit:
Smedjebacken: fri.smedjebacken.se/forening Ludvika: ludvika.se/foreningar
