Halle's Youth Services Face Total Collapse by March 2026
Youth services in Halle (Saale) are facing a severe crisis as multiple institutions prepare to shut down by March 2026. The city's budget deficit of around €150 million has forced cuts, leaving children's and youth centres, sports projects, and radio programmes without funding. Staff have already received termination notices, and without urgent intervention, all activities will stop entirely on 1 March.
The 'congrav new sports' association, which runs flagship projects like Halle rollt!, Trendsportring, and tumult Digital, announced it will suspend operations due to the financial shortfall. Other affected services include the Blauer Elefant family centre, the Grüne Villa, the WaJut Children and Youth Centre, and the youth radio programme at Radio CORAX. The association has described the situation as a 'devastating signal for young people in Halle'.
A protest against the austerity measures will take place on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at 1 p.m. on Halle's Marktplatz. The association has been operating at a loss since January, relying on volunteers and donations to keep emergency services running. A fundraising campaign has been launched in a last-ditch effort to save its programmes. Staff termination notices were issued on 23 February, leaving employees without jobs just days before the full shutdown. The crisis extends beyond *congrav*, with other providers like *Waldorfjugendtreff* and *Congrav*-linked initiatives also facing closure.
The shutdown of these services will leave hundreds of young people in Halle without access to sports, education, and social support. The city's budget crisis has forced immediate cuts, and without additional funding, the programmes will not reopen. Organisers continue to push for donations and public support to prevent a complete collapse.
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