Caritas warns: Cuts seriously endanger child and youth welfare!

Caritas warns: Cuts seriously endanger child and youth welfare!

At a time when social challenges are the order of the day, representatives of the Bamberg Diocesan Caritas Association warn of the effects of planned austerity measures in the social sector. At a recent meeting, Caritas director Michael Endres made an urgent appeal not to let the upcoming cuts come at the expense of children and young people. According to information from MainPost He sees the proposed cuts as gross negligence, especially in times of crisis when support for particularly vulnerable groups is essential.

Politicians have recently classified cost increases of up to 10% in youth welfare and integration assistance as unacceptable. The figures presented by Endres are a clear indication that the debate about financial resources in the social sector is becoming more and more intense: in 2023, spending on child and youth welfare will be around 71.9 billion euros - an increase of 9.2% compared to the previous year. Spending on child day care in particular contributes to a large part, which amounted to around 48.8 billion euros in 2023 - a whopping 67.9% of total spending on the social sector, as shown in the supplementary analysis Caritas Bamberg emerges.

Need for reliable help structures

Endres emphasizes that reliable support structures for children, young people and their families are essential, especially in times of uncertainty. The planned cuts are seen as unreflective as they could jeopardize the support that many people in difficult life situations need. Without financial security for prevention, early help and protection concepts, the challenges become ever greater.

Spending on child and youth welfare is also stagnating in relation to gross domestic product. This situation must definitely be reconsidered by politicians, said Endres. He calls for honest and thoughtful analyzes instead of making blanket decisions. What he considers important is protecting the most vulnerable in society. In this context, the UBSKM law on dealing with sexual violence, which comes into force on July 1, 2025, also plays a major role, but it also relies on municipal financial resources. Here the municipalities are called upon to show responsibility.

An appeal to local politics

Particular attention is paid to refugee children, who urgently need educational support and suitable conditions. Endres warns urgently that social cohesion and solidarity in the community are at stake as a result of social cuts. “A sustainable society needs investments in child protection and support for young people,” said the Caritas director. He sees a responsible local election in 2026 as an opportunity to further develop social responsibility and thus meet the needs of the community.

Ultimately, it is crucial that politicians become aware of their social responsibility and invest in the future instead of making cuts in the present. The voices from Caritas are an urgent indication that there is a need for action on this issue in order to do justice to the wishes and challenges of society.