The Norwegian support group after the July 22 attacks was established in Oslo on August 21, 2011 to promote the interests of those affected after the bombing of the Government Quarter and the shooting on Utøya.

The terrorist attacks on July 22 affected a large number of people, and municipalities across the country were affected. The support group is open to anyone affected in different ways; those who were in and around the Government Quarter or at AUF's summer camp on Utøya, their families and close relationships, and those who in other ways were involved in or affected by the attacks. The support group offers a network and contact with others who are affected in the same way as you.

Our mission

There is still a great need for targeted follow-up of good quality. The support group does important, voluntary work to safeguard the interests of those affected, and for everyone to receive the help they need.

The society around us naturally progresses faster than we affected sometimes manage. Therefore, the support group still has an important job to do. We prioritize facilitating peer to peer support for those affected and creating meeting places where we can share experiences and thoughts - or just do something nice with others who are affected in the same way as ourselves.

At the same time, the support group takes care of an important task by being a point of contact with the public, the media and the authorities, and by speaking out on behalf of our members.

The national board

The board of the national support group consists of seven members. The leader is Lisbeth Kristine Røyneland, and the deputy leader is Tor Inge Kristoffersen. The board has an important role in organizing the support group and being a driving force behind the support system. We disseminate information that is relevant to our members, on our website 22juli.info, via newsletters by e-mail, and on Facebook and Twitter.

The board highlights the need for follow-up and peer support to the authorities and seeks funding for activities and gatherings on behalf of the county councils. The support group has an established network of contacts, and we strive to be clear, concise and constructive in communication with the decision-making authorities the judicial system, and as a visible player in the media. We participate in a number of collaborative bodies, research committees and meetings to ensure psychosocial follow-up, facilitation in schools and the legal rights of those affected. We also participate in various conferences that are relevant to us, about everything from mental health and grief support to safety and emergency preparedness. We also give lectures and presentations in various contexts. Several representatives of the support group also participate in the work on the affected people's own memorial site on Utøya. The government has also decided that two national memorial sites will be created after the terrorist attack, one in the Government Quarter, and one at the Utøya key.

The National Support Group plans and arranges the annual memorials on 22 July in the Government Quarter and on Utøya, and in collaboration with AUF. We also invite to meetings with exchange of experience for the county teams' leaders and deputy leaders every autumn and spring.

The board of the national support group

The county teams

The support group has county teams in almost the entire country, which offer activities, meetings and gatherings for its members. Many organize and cover the costs of joint trips to Utøya in connection with annual celebrations, open days, etc. All county teams also have their own Facebook groups where current information is disseminated, and where members can exchange opinions and experiences. The boards of the county teams can also assist in specific matters and be a driving force for, for example, the municipality, the health service and the school.

Membership

The support group is the only large association for those affected, and the membership is open to everyone who are affected at no cost. Experience shows that many of those affected need a community and a unifying mouthpiece, and the support group offers meeting places and can help those affected to reach their views and concerns. We want to give a unifying offer to as many as possible and meet each other with respect.

Those affected form a composite group with different needs and different opinions. We represent our members first and foremost, and from them we have a clear mandate for our work.

We have 1852 members in the group (as per November 2022).