Standalone groups advocate for the preservation of teen hubs
In the heart of Bergisch Gladbach, the future of its youth centers hangs in the balance, as the Open Youth Centres Association (OKJA) grapples with significant increases in personnel costs and a proposed reduction in funding for next year.
The city, while supporting open children and youth work, is bound by budgetary regulations and cannot currently provide any further financial resources. This has led to a tense situation, with the OKJA expressing concerns about the costs running away from them.
Marcel Kreutz, candidate for mayor from the SPD and Greens, has announced that he and his party will vote in favour of the application by the carriers in the youth welfare committee. Kreutz, who has always aimed to secure the financing of youth work, believes that every investment in children and young people is worthwhile, as they are the future of the city. He has promised to find solutions to cover the additional costs and appeals for planning security and sustainable strengthening of open children and youth work.
Alexander Felsch, candidate for mayor from the CDU and FDP, also supports the proposal of the free carriers to ensure a solid and transparent financing for the actual need by 2026. He sees the transition year as an opportunity to fundamentally revise the funding structures, with the aim of developing a future-proof model. Felsch believes that open youth work should be recognized as a municipal duty that must be permanently and structurally secured.
The OKJA, however, is not satisfied with the city's proposal and is demanding that the administration compensate for the approximately 240,000 euros missing for the facilities per year through other financial means in the budget. In response, the OKJA has presented a counter-proposal aimed at maintaining the youth centers and securing financing.
The mood in the "Ufo" youth center in Bensberg, one of the facilities in question, is dampened due to uncertainty about its continuation in the new year. The city states that it supports open children and youth work but is bound by budgetary regulations.
The youth office and the carriers had previously worked out a financing proposal that provided more money for the youth centers from 2026 and a modified calculation of personnel costs. The speaker of the AG OKJA responsible for open child and youth work at the Catholic Youth Office could not be identified at the time of writing.
As the election for the position of mayor approaches, both candidates have pledged their support for the youth centers. The outcome of the election will likely shape the future of open children and youth work in Bergisch Gladbach.
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