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

2. 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

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

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

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

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

7. 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

8. YOUTH AND YOUTHWORK POLICY

9. 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

10. Youth Work Structure – 3 Pillars

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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) : youth work infrastructure
Part 2: youth policy
Coordination with and impulses in other sectors
Priority (= additional funds) : youth information

18. 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)

19. 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.

20. 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

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

22. Local Private Types of Youth Work
Number %
Youth movements %
Young people’s movements %
Political youth organisations %
Playground activities %
Youth houses and youth clubs %
Youth workshops %
Youth music workshops %
Youth groups for amateur arts practice %
Children’s farms %
Training initiatives for (un)employed young people %
Initiatives for socially vulnerable young people %
Self-organisations of young immigrants %
Youth work for disabled children and young people %
Other youth work initiatives %
TOTAL %
Based on 307 municipalities, 2004 figures

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

24. 2007 Budget Act on Local and Provincial 18,796,000 € Youth Work
Act on Flemish Youth Policy
National youth work ,709,000 €
Experimental youth work ,000 €
Participation and communication ,687,000 €
Youth culture ,000,000 €
International ,000 €