Independent groups advocate for persistence of teenage havens
In the heart of Bergisch Gladbach, the 'Ufo' youth centre in Bensberg is facing an uncertain future as the new year approaches. The Open Carriers of Children and Youth Work (OKJA) are not satisfied with the city's funding proposal for youth centres next year, which has led to a counter-proposal aimed at maintaining these vital facilities.
The OKJA's counter-proposal, currently under consideration in the youth welfare committee, seeks to secure the future of the youth centres and ensure a solid and transparent financing for their actual needs by 2026. Alexander Felsch, a mayoral candidate, supports this proposal, seeing it as a good starting point for jointly developing a future-proof funding model.
The city, however, has reduced its proposal for funding youth centres next year, citing budgetary regulations as the reason for their inability to provide further financial resources. The OKJA sees no more savings potential in the personnel area, where the additional costs were mainly incurred.
Martin Greiber and Manuela Muth, activists within the OKJA, are leading the charge for the continuation of the youth centres. Their counter-draft criticizes the city's significant budget cuts and demands compensation for missing funds through other financial means in the budget. They emphasize the importance of these centres as low-threshold educational places for youth integration and inclusion.
Marcel Kreutz, another mayoral candidate, also backs the OKJA's counter-proposal. He considers youth centres as an investment in the future of Bergisch Gladbach and promises to continue his efforts to secure funding for youth work if elected as mayor. Kreutz aims to recognize open youth work as a communal duty that must be permanently and structurally secured.
Alexander Felsch shares similar sentiments, promising to ensure a solid and transparent financing for the actual need by 2026. He sees the financing model proposed by the free carriers and the youth office as a good starting point.
Both candidates agree that youth centres are essential for providing equal opportunities for all young people to spend their free time meaningfully. Kreutz believes that youth centres are crucial for offering a safe and inclusive environment for young people to grow and learn, while Felsch sees them as a platform for fostering social skills and personal development.
The mayoral candidates are backing the OKJA's counter-proposal, appealing for planning security for the carriers and sustainable strengthening of open children and youth work structures. The OKJA describes the cost burden as no longer feasible due to wage increases in the public sector and demands that the administration compensate for the missing around 240,000 euros per year through other financial means in the budget.
As the vote in the youth welfare committee approaches, the future of the 'Ufo' youth centre in Bensberg hangs in the balance. The community waits with bated breath, hoping for a solution that will secure the continuation of these vital facilities for the benefit of Bergisch Gladbach's young people.
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