Since 1993, the relevance and the future of playground work is being guarded, with two main points of attention: services and training. At the end of the 1990’s and in the early 2000’s, the training courses (which were fragmented into 13 different centres) get a provincial focus.
- In 1998, the Brabantic centres become united under VDS Flemish-Brabant. That same year, the same happens in East-Flanders. A year later, West-Flanders follows suit.
- Other training centres that do not follow VDS in its playground mentality either quit or find shelter with other organisations. Some vie for recognition by the government themselves.
- Limburg finally follows in 2002.
- In Antwerp, we already have VDS structures, but within the province, there are three different VDS groups. When one of these groups decide to go autonomous in 2006, the other two merge and in 2008, they become VDS Antwerp.
We now have five provincial points of service which, at this point, are seen as different organisations with their own managements. The national management consists of the chiefs of regional managements and in the General Meeting, they are joined by several regional board members. In 2004, a sixth point of service arises in the heart of Belgium. VDS Brussels joins the fray.
At this point, it becomes clear that the fragmented organisation needs a central policy. One unified VDS will provide more quality and impact than the fragmented regional points. External signals from partners and the governments function as an extra push.
In 2005, the fusion is officially shaped and carried out. There is, from then on, one policy for all employees and volunteers. The different regions have their own say in what they focus in their policy, but they seek out common focus points with other provinces and VDS gains common views throughout the organisation. In 2012, VDS gains a new and fresh make over, and we remember the old differences only in anecdotes.