Belgium, Flanders and Flemish Youth (Work) Policy In a nutshell

Belgium: Facts and Figures Surface area: 32,545 km² Population: 10,511,382 (2006) Capital: Brussels Head of State: King Albert II Prime Minister: Yves Leterme? Official languages: Dutch, French and German

Belgian State Structure Belgium is a federal state consisting of 3 Communities and 3 Regions Communities Federal State Regions Provinces Municipalities

Federal Level - Competences Conferred competences (justice, police, national defence, social security, …) Residuary competences (not conferred on Communities or Regions)

Communities – Inhabitants of a Language Area Flemish Community (+/- 6,000,000 people) French Community (+/- 4,000,000 people) German-speaking Community (+/- 70,000 people)

Communities - Competences Person-related matters Culture, education, language use Health policy, assistance to people (social assistance, youth protection,…)

Flemish Community – 13 Policy Areas 13 homogeneous policy areas: Services of the Minister-President for the General Government Policy Administrative Affairs Finance and Budget Flemish Foreign Affairs Economy, Science and Innovation Education and Training Welfare, Public Health and Family Culture, Youth, Sport and Media Work and Social Economy Agriculture and Fisheries Mobility and Public Works Environment, Nature and Energy Town and Country Planning, Housing Policy and Immovable Heritage

YOUTH AND YOUTHWORK POLICY

Youth Work – A Definition Socio-cultural initiatives For children and young people aged between 3 and 30 Takes place in leisure time Participation on a voluntary basis Takes place under educational guidance

Youth Work Structure – 3 Pillars

Instruments for a Flemish Youth (Work) Policy Flemish Youth Policy Plan Act on Flemish Youth Policy Act on Municipal, Intermunicipal and Provincial Youth (Work) Policy Act on Youth Accommodation Centres

Flemish Youth Policy Plan 2006-2009 Plan of the Flemish Government Overall vision on youth and youth policy, with special focus on youth work policy Is drafted in co-operation with the Flemish Youth Support Centre, the Flemish Youth Council and youth

Flemish Youth Policy Plan 2006-2009 Priorities: In the flemish youth policy plan are several priorities. These priorities are translated in the other acts (municipal, projects, National-flemish youthwork,….) Integration of children’s rights and youth policy Support youth work Youth information Participation and diversity International

Act on Flemish Youth Policy – Nationally Organised Youth Associations (p.e. Formaat vzw) Age: 3 to 30 years Activities with or for youth from at least 4 Flemish provinces General conditions + establish activities in at least one of the following modules: Guidance of local youth associations Provision of youth activities Guidance or training of youth workers Product development Subsidy: Recognition for unlimited duration Basic subsidy = 50,000 € per year + variable part (every three years on the basis of policy memorandum, established after advice from advisory committee)

Act on Municipal Youth Work Policy – Why and For Whom? To support and promote local youth (work) policy Age: 3 to 25 years Basic principles: Youth work policy as part of broader youth policy Co-operation between levels of government (horizontal and vertical) Planning and planning process Permanent dialogue Sufficient financial scope

Act on Municipal Youth and Youth Work Policy – How? Three-yearly draft of youth policy plan (308 municipals = 308 municipal plans) Permanent participation Local youth work initiatives Children and young people Experts Municipal youth council

Act on Municipal Youth and Youth Work Policy – Content? Part 1: Youth work policy Support, training of youth workers, accessibility and diversity, infrastructure Priority (= additional funds) 2008-2010: youth work infrastructure Part 2: youth policy Coordination with and impulses in other sectors Priority (= additional funds) 2008-2010: youth information

How do the locals think about the planning of local youthpolicy? Positive Now more money for local youth policy More quality in youth policy: based on facts and figures Continuity Involvement of the government Participation of childeren, youth and youthwork is an obligation Negative A lot of paperwork and workload (every 3 year they have to write a plan)

What’s the part of youth clubs in this story? Youth clubs are member of the municipal youth council. The youth council helps writing the municipal youth (work) policy plan. Youth clubs are a subject in the youth (work) policy plan. More en more local governments invest more and more in youth clubs. Every municipal has an youth support service with one or more professionals. The professional supports the youth council, the youth work organisations, the municipal youth activities.

Youth councils Flemish youth council Give advice on all matters concerning youth Consultative body with provincial and municipal youth councils and the youth council of the Flemish Community Commission Represent both youth and youth work in national and international fora

Municipal youth councils Give advice on all matters concerning youth helps writing the municipal Youth and Youth Work Policy plan

Local Private Types of Youth Work Number % Youth movements 2223 37.24% Young people’s movements 442 7.40% Political youth organisations 437 7.32% Playground activities 179 3.00% Youth houses and youth clubs 470 7.87% Youth workshops 121 2.03% Youth music workshops 106 1.78% Youth groups for amateur arts practice 737 12.35% Children’s farms 24 0.40% Training initiatives for (un)employed young people 11 0.18% Initiatives for socially vulnerable young people 110 1.84% Self-organisations of young immigrants 71 1.19% Youth work for disabled children and young people 75 1.26% Other youth work initiatives 964 16.15% TOTAL 5970 100.00% Based on 307 municipalities, 2004 figures

Municipal Youth Work Programmes Playground activities 216 Grabbelpas 158 Games 70 Activities for teenagers 46 Swap 144 Workshops 60 Youth meeting 63 Target-group oriented 41 Roefel 107 Inclusion playground 23 Cultural programming 13 Activities for pre-schoolers 55 “Do-days” 27 Neighbourhood playgrounds 16 Other 88 Total 1127 Based on 307 municipalities, 2004 figures

2007 Budget Act on Local and Provincial 18,796,000 € Youth Work Act on Flemish Youth Policy National youth work 21,709,000 € Experimental youth work 160,000 € Participation and communication 2,687,000 € Youth culture 1,000,000 € International 369,000 €