#BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 85Law to Strengthen Youth Work Offerings in All-Day Care During School Holidays
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Enacted on 29 March 2026 and published in the Federal Law Gazette (BGBl. 2026 I Nr. 85) on 1 April 2026, this law amends the Social Code (SGB) and existing cultural welfare legislation (FNA 860-8, 224-31) to expand and consolidate youth work programs during school holiday periods within Germany's all-day schooling (Ganztag) framework. The legislation addresses a structural gap identified after the broad rollout of all-day schooling: during school holidays, children and adolescents lose access to structured, pedagogically supervised programs that would otherwise be available on school days. The law mandates that municipalities and youth welfare offices (Jugendämter) maintain or newly create qualifying holiday programs to fill this gap. Funding responsibilities are clarified between federal, state (Länder), and municipal levels. Providers of recognized youth welfare services — including sports clubs, cultural associations, and church-affiliated organizations — gain a strengthened legal basis to apply for co-financing for holiday programs that meet defined quality standards. The lead ministry is the Federal Ministry for Education, Family, Seniors, Women and Youth (BMBFSJ). Implementation timelines and minimum program duration requirements are set out in the accompanying statutory provisions.
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Key Changes
- Municipalities and Jugendämter are legally obligated to provide or fund structured youth work programs during school holidays within the all-day care framework
- Amendments to the Social Code (SGB, FNA 224-31) establish a clearer co-financing framework between federal, state, and municipal authorities for holiday programs
- Recognized free youth welfare providers (Freie Träger) gain an explicit entitlement basis to apply for public co-financing for qualifying holiday programs
+ 3 more changes with Pro
Obligations
What this law requires
Municipalities and youth welfare offices (Jugendämter) must maintain or newly create qualifying holiday programs during school holiday periods to ensure continued access to structured, pedagogically supervised youth work programs.
Providers of recognized youth welfare services must develop and implement holiday programs that meet defined quality standards to be eligible for co-financing.
Recognized youth welfare service providers must apply for co-financing of holiday programs that meet defined quality standards within procedures established by funding authorities.
Federal, state (Länder), and municipal governments must clarify and fulfill their respective funding responsibilities for holiday youth work programs as specified in the statutory provisions.
All implementing authorities must comply with minimum program duration requirements for holiday youth work offerings as set out in the accompanying statutory provisions.