Cuts in the city youth association: Danger to youth development in Gmünd!

Cuts in the city youth association: Danger to youth development in Gmünd!

The city of Schwäbisch Gmünd is currently faced with difficult decisions. As part of the current budget debate, the SPD is warning of the effects of planned cuts to the Stadtjugendring (SJR), which acts as a central contact point for 22 youth associations and takes on numerous coordination tasks. According to the Rem newspaper Not only was the management position of the SJR called into question, but also the possibility of generating important funding.

This year, the SJR raised around 30,000 euros in grants, of which 20,000 euros went to municipal offerings. The loss of the management position could mean that these funds will not be available in the future. The SJR has already offered savings of 12.5 percent, exceeding the required ten percent, but the city administration remains stubborn and points to the strained financial situation.

The role of the city youth group

The SJR has almost 30 years of association work behind it and is dependent on support from the city, as it cannot apply for certain funding sources. Loud social-ecological-links-gd.de The SJR also organizes its own event formats such as clothes swap days and the city festival for kids. The board sees the valuable work for children and young people at risk if the elimination of the 25 percent position of managing director Birgit Schmidt is implemented.

The First Mayor Christian Baron has already signaled that in the current situation the SJR cannot be excluded from savings. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that proposals have been developed to mitigate hardships. However, final feedback from the SJR is still pending.

Context and challenges

At the federal level, the draft for the 2025 budget was recently approved, which provides for stability in the Federal Youth Ministry. This information comes from Federal Youth Council, which welcomes the stabilization of funds in the children and youth plan, but also warns that even small cuts can have fatal effects on the child and youth welfare infrastructure.

Although the budget of the Federal Youth Ministry has been increased, the situation at the local level remains critical. A lack of investment in infrastructure could result in higher social costs in the long term. Judy Broda and Wendelin Haag are therefore calling for massive investments in the structures of youth associations in order to ensure that they receive reliable support and good growth for future generations.

Given these challenges, it remains to be seen what decisions will ultimately be made as part of the budget debate in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The SJR emphasizes the urgency and necessity of close cooperation with the city in order to ensure the positive development of youth development in the future.