Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and

Classifications of Youth Information in several countries

Document is based on views of ERYICA members and cooperating organizations.

Processed in March 2008

Compiled by:
Eliška Bucvanová,
Youth Information Centre of the
National Institute of Children and Youth of the
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic

Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classifications of Youth Information in several countries

Document was compiled in order to map Youth Information Systems mostly in European countries – to understand how does the
youth information structure in particular countries look like, how are the systems financed and if there are any fixed classifications of
information.

This is not any official report. Presented conclusions are based on email answer of ERYICA members and cooperating
organizations to three questions: how does the youth information structure look like in your country (coordinating body,
associations, centres, what is governmental / what is not); how is the system financed (governmental / profit making / benefits...);
how does the classification of information you provide look like. Countries not included didn´t reply (or dind´t reply in time).

Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information
Austria  Austria is a federal state, therefore  Aprox. 95% governmental through  There is - so far - no national system of
youth matters in general and youth funding of the youth departments of classification. Every youth information
information in particiular are mainly in the provinces (and on national level Center has their own system. But there
the responsibilty of the 9 federal the youth ministry). Aprox. 5% coming is agreement on four big themes that
provinces and that means that the from sponsors and other fundraising- are common in the whole country -
structures are very diverse: activities (but that also differs a lot including different subthemes in the
o some of the centers are part of the from one province to the other). different provinces: Work/Education,
youth departments of the federal Mobility/International issues, Social
province, issues/health, Leisure Time.
o some are part of big NGOs doing
different youth-work for the province,
o some are NGOs on their own.
 In 2004 the Austrian regional youth
information centres created a national
association - jugendinfo.cc, which is
financed by the Youth Ministry through
different projects (e.g. National Agency
EURODESK, National training-
projects, national publications,...)
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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information
Belgium – Flemish  There are basically two networks:  The JAC's are financed throuth the  Classification is not a big issue
community o The older one consists of the 34 CAW centres by the Ministry of here. The approach is process and
JACs (youth information and Wellfare on the basis of long term product based: it depends what we
counselling centres). These NGO's agreements and working plans. Most produce. E.g. for the "Youth Guide
are part of bigger local (cities) or of them get some additional money (250.000 copies) the Youth information
regional Wellfare centres from local and provincial government is based on some themes like sex,
(CAW). They deal with prevention and private sponsoring. relations, leicsure time, school,
work, but most of them are also  In Petto, national youth service for travelling, working, money, wiving,
recognised as JIP (Youth information and prevention is financed society, health. The same themes are
information point - generalist) by the Ministry of Youth on the basis of used for the national website
o The second network is in the three-year agreement and working www.jongereninformatie.be. The
Association of Local youth officers plan, with some extra financial support information desks of the JIPs contains
and services. They are local for specific projects and privat and leaflets with much more specific
governmental and mostly situated in public sponsoring. issues.
local youth centres (also youth  The local youth services (including
clubs, libraries,...). They are more their youth information desk/work) are
connected to leiscure time and mainly fincanced by the local
cultural activities. community, but with some financial
 Since three years (and as a result of support from the Flemish govenment.
the white paper process) the Kabinet The Decree (Flemish law) on local
founded the VIP Jeugd (Flemish youth policy obliges local communities
Information Point Youth) as a co- to write a youth policy plan with the
ordinating body. It is an NGO with participation of young people. If they
members appointed by the Minister do so, they get some (quite a lot) of
and bringing together specialists from money from the Flemish ministry
different backgrounds. Their task is to based on the number of young people
co-ordinate youth information work in and some specific indicators (young
Flanders. One of their tasks is to run people in poverty, migrant youth
the JIP network (recognition, support, numbers,...). When the local
training,...). Due some difficulties (like communities work on the priorities of
change of staff) they are still not 100% the Minister of Youth they get some
operational. extra money.
 The coordinating body VIP Jeugd is
also financed by the Flemish Ministry
of Youth.
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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information
Belgium – French  There are two coordinating bodies:  The YICs are all recognized and  There are several classification
speaking community CIDJ and Fédération Infor-Jeunes. funded by the State. But they need to systems inside the youth information
Both of them are recognized and have several money sources because centres, but no one is "official".
funded by the State. the State funding is not sufficent. Many  Nevertheless, with the "infogeneration"
 10 youth information centres are of them sell some products or services project, there have been developped a
affilated to Fédération infor-Jeunes (as trainings or pedagogic tools) and thesaurus which will be used by all the
and 5 to CIDJ. Each youth information receive also money and support from youth information workers from all the
centre is an NGO and is independent local authorities. centers. The database is available in
from the others (and from its French and in Dutch.
coordinating body).
 Some of those youth information
centres have cooperation contract with
other bodies (youth clubs, local
administrations,...) to decentralize the
information through "info points".

Belgium – German  There is one association, no  YICs are financed by local money  No answer to this question.
speaking community cordinating body. (city).
 All YIC's are NGO.

Czech Republic  Youth information system is based on  Only ICM-NIDM-MSMT is fully New conception of YI system is
cooperation of the: supported by the Ministry discussed now, probable classification:
 Ministry of Education, Youth and  Association and YI centres are partly 1. Education in the CR, abroad
Sports – Department for Youth, supported by the Ministry, partly by the 2. Education abroad
 Youth Information Centre of the localgovernment, partly from its own 3. Work in the CR
National Institute of Children and activities 4. Worka abroad
Youth of the Ministry of Educsation, 5. Travellinf in the CR
Youth and Sports (ICM-NIDM- 6. Travelling abroad
MSMT), 7. Leisure time
 Association for Support of 8. Socio-pathological phenomena
Development of Youth Information 9. Citizen and society
Centers in the Czech Republic 10. Youth and EU
(NGO). 11. Money, Housing
 Except ICM-NIDM-MSMT all YI 12. Uniform classification of information
Centres are NGOs from all the regions
Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information
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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

Estonia  Estonian Youth Work Centre is under  In 2007 there were 20 youth No answer to this question from Estonian
the authority of the Estonian Ministry information and counselling centres on organization
of Education and Research. the county level, which have been
 The county governors are organising supported by the state. Many of those
the provision of information for and above mentioned centres are
counselling of young people in the supported also by the local
counties by way of entering into a governments or by the unions of the
contract with a legal or natural person local governments and some of those
for the provision of the specified centres are dealing with the project
service (contracts with the regional work simultaneously.
youth information and counselling
centres). County governments are
coordinative bodies between state and
the regional youth information and
counselling centres.

Finland  YI centres around the country are run  Local Youth Information Centres and  There is no classification system at the
by local municipalities or regional Services in Finland are financed by the moment.
organisations. All YI centres get municipality youth work and Ministry of
professional support, guidance and Education since 2005. Some have EU
training by the National Coordination funding.
and Development Centre of Youth
Information and Counselling Services.
The Ministry of Education pointed the
Department of Youth Affairs in City of
Oulu to establish this national
coordination unit.
 Coordination and development Centre
cooperates with Ministry of Education
(Youth Unit), Center for International
Mobility CIMO - (NA for YIA) /
Eurodesk and The Finnish Youth
Cooperation ALLIANSSI (National
Member Organisation in ERYICA).

Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information
France The French Youth Information network is  CIDJ and CRIJ receive grants from the No answer to this question from French
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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

a nation-wide network of around 1600 ministry (around 50% of their budget). organization
Youth Information Centres, Offices and  CIDJ is selling to professionals and
Points, composed of: relays national information
 1 national centre - the CIDJ (a non- (Internet/Book) corresponding at 30%
profit-making organisation with a of its budget.
specific national mission); as a  The 20% remaining are coming from
national resource centre it prepares the Paris Region, City of Paris and
common documentation and others ministers.
distributes this to the regional partners;  For the CRIJ the 50% are coming from
 30 regional centres based in the local authorities (City, department,
administrative capitals of French region).
regions (CRIJ / CIJ - a non-profit-  BIJ and PIJ (staff and running)
making organisation responsible for received funding from local authorities;
producing information, and distributing nothing from the state (at national or
and delivering it to youth); regional level).
 300 Youth Information Offices (BIJ);
 1300 Youth Information Points (PIJ).

Germany  Youth information in Germany is very  The work of the network and the  There are different classifications. It
multifaceted. There is no national coordinator is financed by the National depends on the youth information
governmental recognized institution Youth Ministry. centre or organisation. There is no
that is coordinating youth information.  The local and regional youth national classification.
The local and regional offers are information offers have different  Youth information covers: education,
varying from youth information centres responsible bodies (regional youth employment, further education, school
(bigger and smaller ones) to web councils, municipality, etc.). & school exchange, studies, training,
based offers and combined offers. friendship, health, living, love,
partnership, international youth work,
media education & youth protection,
child & girl abuse, environment,
gender, funding, rights, social issues,
violence, policy, Europe, events, spare
time, culture, mobility, sports,
travelling, vacation, addresses for
further information.
Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information
Germany - continued  At regional level there are so called
youth servers (web based youth
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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

information) in some federal states. In

the Southern and Eastern parts of
Germany there are two informal
networks of youth information workers
for exchange and qualification. The
network is financed by regional youth
councils or by the youth information
organisations.
 At national level there is the
jugendinfonetz (youth information
network, jugendinfonetz.de). In this
network approx. 20 youth information
institutions from local and regional
level work together. The aim is the
development of youth information
within the areas of qualification, quality
and participation.

Luxembourg  There is a National Youth Information  The National Youth Information Center  Since there is no an office label for
Center who coordinates YI on national is fully subsidized by the Ministry of Youth Information yet, the
level. Family and Integration on basis of classification is only existing on the
 On local level, Youth information is contractual agreement (time-limited). national level. There are 6 main
provided by the local Youth Centers.  Local Youth Centers also have a categories:
contractual agreement with the 1. Health,
Ministry and their costs are covered in 2. Studies and Trainig,
the ratio of 50% by the Ministry and 3. Practical life,
50% by the municipality. They have to 4. Leisure, Holidays, sports,
dedicate 25% of their resources to 5. Employment,
Youth Information. 6. Europe, International.
 On all these themes, there are about
80 documentary folders (which can be
accessed on the web site as well).

Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information

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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

Montenegro  There was no real youth information  Forum MNE is NGO and raises fund  Since Forum MNE is in the process of
structure. Forum MNE is currently in mainly from donors. establishing youth information
the process of creating one: FMNE  Local governments contribute to the structure, classification of information
has been establishing 6 youth programs by providing premises in two is still in development.
information centers in 5 towns. towns.  At the very moment, information is
 As for the other institutions or  As for the youth information centers, classified in the following areas: formal
organizations doing youth information they are located in youth club and non formal education, health,
work, there are some activities in the premises provided by local employment, rights, participation,
filed of health and employment, but government and institution. government and laws, culture, local
there is no structured, generalist youth  National Youth Policy Agency has information, leisure time, family,
information work. allocated budget for projects related to autonomy, practical tips-passport, ID
 As for the governmental involvement implementing the action plans in card issuing, visas etc, mobility,
in the youth information work, different areas, but since the Agency Europe.
government does not have clear and have not started working yet, those  Apart from storing and exhibiting this
structured role in it. The only step funds will be available in future information in specially made shelves,
government made in this field is (approximately in a year). YIC offer fresh information on: Info
creating the National Youth Policy  For the time being, Forum MNE is Boards, E-newsletters, Youth Web
paper. National Youth Policy applying to foreign donors for projects Portal is in the process of creation, E-
envisages structured work in youth in the youth information work. library of educational materials have
information filed (youth information been created, Info boards in the
centers, youth media information, schools will be provided, as well as
generalist and specific information, other outreach activities in the places
reaching mainstream and marginalized where young people gather\live.
groups, etc).
 Still, this remains on the action plan
level, since the Agency for
implementation of National Youth
Policy has been established but still
has not started to work.

Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information

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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

Northern Ireland  In Northern Ireland there is one youth  The YI Centre granted money by the  Our classification system is based
information centre which is home to Government on a year-to-year basis to under the following main themes:
the youth information web site fund the web site and its staff . 1. Employment;
(niyouthinfo.org). 2. Education;
 A Panel made up of representatives 3. Environment;
from various youth organisations 4. Health;
advises us and helps us to 'spread the 5. Housing;
word'. 6. Legal Issues;
7. Money;
8. Relationships;
9. Travel.
 Under each heading there are lots of
sub-headings.

Portugal  IPJ has a Youth Information system /  The system is financed by the  There is a taxonomy of 3 institutional
Multichannel Info System Portuguese Government. areas: IPJ, Youth Hostels and Youth
 A co-ordination service in Lisbon  IPJ is a public entity dependig on Card, and New technologies.
 A network composed by 41 Youth the Secretary of state for Youth and  Spare times and vacancies,
Info Stores (Youth Info Centres) Sports (20 Youth stors/Info Volunteership activities, Housing,
 1 XL size in Lisbon, Centres), Entrepreneurship, Youth Associations,
depending on IPJ Central  the rest of the system is financed by Education, Training, Employment,
Services, IPJ and Local Municipalities and IPJ Citizenship, Health and Sexuality
 18 L size depending on IPJ and the 3 Yotuh Associations. issues.
regional Services and  Untill the end of 2008 there will be a  The Information System is a
 the rest of them, size M, total of 50 stores because 9 more multichannel Info system, composed
depending on the local Municipalities want to devellop of: 2 phone lines: The youth Line
municipalities in partnership with partnerships with IPJ in this field. (generalistic) and a Sexuality Line
IPJ, localised at the second and (sexuality issues for youngsters);
third regional cities (in terms of National Youth Portal; Youth
youth inhabitants). Information Network (41 Youth Info
 So, part of the structure is Centres); Couselling Services on:
governmental and the rest of the Health and Sexuality offices; Eurodesk;
structure is a co-operation with local Housing.
municipalities and also 2 Centres in
co-operation with Youth Associations.

Country 1) The youth information structure 2) Financing of the system 3) Classification of information
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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic
The Structure and Financing of the Youth Information Systems and Classification of Youth Information in several countries March 2008

Russia  Youth information structure does not  So, it is not financed on a regular  No classification at all
exist in the country - some NGO's do base.
some informational activities, some
Go's have their information
departments but Youth information
system as a structure does not exist.

Slovenia  On national level there are 3 national  National and local level is supported 1. Formal education
organisations (NGOs): by governmental and local tenders 2. Non-formal education
 MISSS - generalist youth (once a year). 3. Health
information,  Aprox. 20 youth centers are directly 4. Leasure time
 MOVIT - Eurodesk Slovenia - supported by local authorities, the rest 5. Youth information
european youth information; are NGOs (30). 6. International youth programmes
 MOVIT Euro26 - slovenian EYCA 7. Relations
member. 8. Need help
 On local level there are 50 Youth 9. Work
centers, providing information as part 10. Money
of their regular activity, 11. Housing
 At the moment there is no official 12. Youth and politics
cordination between national and local 13. Law and rights
level. 14. Ecology
15. Religions

Spain  There is a big network consisting of:  The system is financed by regional  They work on the classification of the
 Injuve = National Youth Institute and local budget. Information, through a Thesaurus on
(national coordinating body),  The Associations are finnaced by youth, that they create with the
 Regional Centers (in each region or local authorities, for projects on collaboration of the regions.
autonomous community), national level, Injuve is financing.
 Local Centers (belong to the
Municipalities).

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Youth Information Centre of the National Institute of Children and Youth of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic