Valnesfjord Helsesportsenter

Valnesfjord Helsesportsenter (VHSS) is a Norwegian specialized rehabilitation centre established in 1982 as a public foundation. It is located in Fridalen, Valnesfjord, in Fauske Municipality in Nordland county, and it focuses on physical medicine and rehabilitation with adapted physical activity as its main therapeutic tool. The centre describes itself as offering holistic services for people of all ages, guided by the values 'trygg, raus og engasjert' — safe, generous and engaged. VHSS operates 72 beds and primarily admits users from Northern Norway and Nord-Trøndelag. Its services cover habilitation for children and youth, rehabilitation for adults aged 18 and over, and work-oriented rehabilitation. The centre also offers rental of its facilities to sports teams, training groups, friends' groups, pensioner associations, former patients, companies, clubs and school classes when the facilities are not in use by the institution itself. Since 2012, VHSS has hosted the National Competence Service for Children and Youth with Disabilities, which in 2024 changed its name to the National Quality and Competence Network for Children and Youth with Disabilities. The centre is also mentioned in the member magazine Patetra of the Norwegian Association for Spinal Cord Injured (LARS), and it organizes events such as the annual conference and cross-country skiing gatherings in cooperation with regional sports bodies. The institution is publicly owned and operates as a foundation rather than a commercial company, but it functions as a brand for specialized rehabilitation services in Norway. Its activities are rooted in the idea that activity and tailored programmes can help people master their own lives, participate in leisure and community, and improve their quality of life.

Valnesfjord Helsesportsenter was established in 1982 as a public foundation specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, with adapted physical activity as its primary method. It is located in Fridalen, Valnesfjord, in Fauske Municipality, Nordland county, Norway. The centre has 72 beds and primarily serves users from Northern Norway and Nord-Trøndelag. Over the years, VHSS has developed a range of services including habilitation for children and youth, rehabilitation for adults, and work-oriented rehabilitation. Since 2012, it has hosted the National Competence Service for Children and Youth with Disabilities, which in 2024 was renamed the National Quality and Competence Network for Children and Youth with Disabilities. The centre also engages in outreach and knowledge dissemination, as reflected in its mention in the member magazine Patetra of the Norwegian Association for Spinal Cord Injured (LARS). VHSS organizes events such as the annual conference and cross-country skiing gatherings in cooperation with regional sports bodies like Salten Langrenn and Nordland skikrets. Its values — safe, generous and engaged — guide its work to promote coping, inclusion and quality of life for people of all ages.

• 2024

  The national service changes its name to National Quality and Competence Network for Children and Youth with Disabilities.

• 2012

  VHSS begins hosting the National Competence Service for Children and Youth with Disabilities.

• 1982

  Valnesfjord Helsesportsenter established as a public foundation.

Specialized rehabilitation centre promoting coping, inclusion and quality of life through activity and tailored services.

• Habilitation for children and youth

  Programmes for children and youth with disabilities.

• Rehabilitation for adults 18+

  Rehabilitation services for adults.

• Work-oriented rehabilitation

  Rehabilitation aimed at returning to work.

• Facility rental

  Rental of facilities to sports teams, groups, companies and school classes when not in use by the institution.

1. 1Valnesfjord Helsesportsenter official websitevhss.no
2. 2Valnesfjord Helsesportssenter - Wikipedia (Norwegian)no.wikipedia.org
3. 3Wikidata entry Q12008911wikidata.org