Local youth work in Flanders

A brief introduction

organised youth – non-organised youth

organised youth – non-organised youth

• Youth movements– Scouting– Chiro– KSJ, KSA, VKSJ– KLJ

• Playground association– Municipal– Private

organised youth – non-organised youth

• Youth movements– Scouting– Chiro– KSJ, KSA, VKSJ– KLJ

• Playground association– Municipal– Private

• Hang sites (welfare)• Neighbourhood work

(welfare)• Municipal youth

service• Youth clubs• Youth centres

Municipal youth work

Municipal youth work

• Organised by the municipal youth service– Grabbelpas– Swappas– Some playground associations– Youth council / youth work policy plan– Some youth clubs– Some youth centres

Youth centres

Youth centres

• Private

• Municipal

Youth centres• A mix of different youth work under one

roof– Grabbelpas / swappas– During holidays: playground association– Youth club– Skate club– Drama club– Teen age club– Rehearsal space for local young musicians– …

Youth centres

• Often can you find the municipal youth service in the same building

• Mostly with employees– Own resources– By means of funding– By means of the municipality

Youth clubs

Youth clubs

• Private

• Municipal

Youth clubs• My youth club is my MATE

– MEETING – ENCOUNTER

• Joy & Fun, do nothing or do a lot

• Alternative to commercial sector– ACTIVATION

• Engagement, Involvement, Critical sense• Inclusion & Social Change

– TOGETHER• Live, Work, Be together = Group work rules• Values: solidarity, respect,

– EDUCATION• Informal & Formal Learning• Learning by experience

Youth clubs• More practical:

– Run by volunteers (for and by youngsters)– For youngster from (14) 16 till 25 years old– Open several days a week

• Mostly in weekends and on Wednesday• Informal meeting

– You can drink something for real democratic prices (but you’re not obliged to drink)

• Youth bar

– Organising activities• Parties• Concerts• Movie nights• Excursions• …

Youth clubs

• More practical:– Open to everyone irrespective of race, sex,

religious and political conviction,…– Organising training for members and

volunteers– Non-commercial / non-profit organization– Youngsters have autonomy

Youth clubs

• Structure (based on the principal of participation throughout the whole organization)– Non-profit organization

– Municipal non-profit organization

– Association without legal personality

Youth clubs• Structure

– Non-profit organization– Municipal non-profit organization– Association without legal personality

General Assembly

Executive Committee

Youth Committee

Work Groups

Members

In a non-profit organization the organization itself is a legal person. This means that the person who acts in behalf of the organization is legally protected by the organization.

Youth clubs

• Structure– Non-profit organization– Municipal non-profit organization

– Association without legal personality

The General Assembly consist of half +one politicians, so they have the majority of the votes.

Youth clubs

• Structure– Non-profit organization– Municipal non-profit organization

– Association without legal personality

People who act in behalf of the organization, are responsible themselves and are not legally protected by the organization.

Youth clubs• Support (by means of people)

– 400 youth clubs in Flanders (members of Formaat)

– +- 310 youth clubs are run by volunteers – +- 90 youth clubs have professional support

• Own resources

• By means of funding

• By means of the municipality

Youth clubs• Support (by means of people)

– 400 youth clubs in Flanders (members of Formaat)

– +- 310 youth clubs are run by volunteers – +- 90 youth clubs have professional support

• Own resources

• By means of funding

• By means of the municipality

– Difference between:

» A youth worker in and for the youth club (he’s a part of the daily functioning of the youth club)

» A youth worker in support of the youth club

Youth clubs• Support (financial and other)

– Own resources• Profits from activities are invested back in the youth

club– By means of funding

• National – federal – provincial– Mostly project funding– For employment

• Local (municipal)– Basic funding– Project funding– Employing youth workers– Providing a location, paying costs,…

– Special foundations• Mostly project funding

Youth clubs

• Some youth clubs have a specific target group– WKJ

• Deprived young people– Migrants– …

Questions for Formaat

• Municipal non-profit organizations– The municipality has the majority of the

votes → what about the autonomy of the youngsters?

• Youth clubs vs. youth centres– it is not always clear what the distinction is

between both• Ex. A youth centre with a lot of staff → what

about the participation of youngsters?

1993: decree on funding from the municipalities to the implementationof a local youth work policy

• Before 1993: national funding• After 1993: funding by the municipalities• Impact:

– detection of local needs– more recognition of local youth clubs– more recognition of local initiatives– The making of a youth work policy plan– Participation of local youth trough the youth council en the youth

work policy plan• An increase of youth clubs from the question of youngsters in the

municipality

A BIG CHANGE FOR THE YOUTH CLUBS