The novel labour market instrument ‘Social activation’ brings together measures whose effects are intended to go beyond the dominant objectives of direct and timely integration into the labour market. On the basis of cases such as kung-R & A courses or theatre groups, Carolin is reconstructing free persons, such as the long-term unemployed and other people furthest from the labour market, to ‘socially activate’ and enable them to participate in society, including by (re)learning everyday skills. The study shows how these measures have been developed in the daily practice of employment services, the strategies to which they can be traced and the consequences for the unemployed.