Cuts in youth welfare ensure protest and debates in Gütersloh!

Cuts in youth welfare ensure protest and debates in Gütersloh!

The planned cuts in the children's and youth area in Gütersloh ensured heated debates in the youth welfare committee. A compromise proposal, which was developed by the factions CDU, SPD and the Greens, triggered displeasure among those affected because it is perceived as inadequate. In front of the town hall, numerous affected people demonstrated to draw attention to the impending savings. These measures are part of a package of measures for household consolidation, which is criticized.

On March 28, 2025, a final decision on the cuts should be made. The discussions also raised the question of whether these savings are legally permitted. The financing of new street workers, which is on the brink of the planned cuts, is particularly questionable. The youth parliament also expressed criticism; The children carry the consequences of the adults actions, it says. Despite the public protest, the application was accepted by the decision -makers.

criticism from different directions

The situation in Gütersloh reflects a larger trend that can be observed in different cities in Germany. So the taz of similar protests in the meeting room of the youth welfare committee in Reinickendorf, where around 50 educators: interior and young people vehemently against the savings plans of the Senate performed. A symbolic garland with the lettering "We want to go on a school trip" was hung up to point out the deteriorating situation.

Gloria Amoruso from the working group of child and youth promotion said that there has been a growing need for youth offers for years. However, many free carriers have hardly any resources to maintain existing offers. In Reinickendorf, 50 to 60 percent of children live in poverty in certain residential areas, which increases the need for support.

The nationwide dimension

A further context is made clear by the Evangelische Akademie frankfurt , according to which the Federal Ministry for Finance is planning cuts in the field of youth welfare. In the coming year, the funds are to be reduced by almost 19 percent, which corresponds to a decline of 45 million euros.

These budgets are not isolated; They concern other social services and lead to sub -tariff payments of employees in the industry. The Secretary General of the German Red Cross expressed concerns about the effects of these cuts in times of labor shortages. In order to bundle the votes of those affected, a call to participate in a rally of the welfare associations was initiated, which under the motto "#stop social cuts!" stands.

Overall, the current developments show that the discussion about financing child and youth welfare is a central social challenge that is becoming increasingly important both locally and nationwide. Regardless of the compromise proposals, the claims of the affected and the reality of the planned savings seem to be widely apart. The effects of these decisions could have far -reaching consequences for youth welfare and the affected children.