Local Youth Promotion

In the Free State of Thuringia, a grant program supports local providers of public youth welfare services in counties and independent cities in developing demand-oriented offerings for children, adolescents, and young adults. Projects are funded in the thematic areas of youth work and school-related youth education, youth association work, youth social work, child and youth protection, outpatient interventions for young offenders, as well as participation and co-determination concepts. The aim is to strengthen local structures, promote preventive measures, support social integration, and actively involve young people in municipal decision-making processes. The program is administratively managed by the Thuringian State Administration Office on behalf of the Thuringian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports.

Over a period of up to twelve months, personnel and material costs of up to 60 percent of eligible expenses can be financed. The fixed-amount funding is based on the available budgetary resources and statistical data from the Thuringian State Office for Statistics. Funding prerequisites include integration into municipal youth welfare planning, adherence to the professional recommendations of the State Youth Welfare Committee, and cooperation with regular schools, grammar schools, comprehensive schools, and – from grade 5 onwards – where applicable, with community schools or special education centers. Applications, including the official application form and the annex ANBest-Gk, must be submitted annually by December 31 of the previous year to the Thuringian State Administration Office. The selection and allocation of funds take place within an annual procedure, with decisions usually sent out in the first quarter of the following year. The program thus creates creative freedom for municipalities to continuously expand the quality of youth work on site and sustainably strengthen the participation of young people.