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1. Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

2. Public financial support

3. Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

Legal/policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations

There is not a specific legal or policy framework for the functioning and development of youth organisations in Cyprus. The youth organisations function in the framework of the ’’Law on Associations and Foundations and Other Related Issues of 2017 104(I)2017’’ (Νόμος που αναθεωρεί τους περί Σωματείων και Ιδρυμάτων Νόμους του 1972 και 1997 και καταργεί τον περί εγγραφής Λέσχων Νόμο - Ν. 104(Ι)/2017). It's main goal is to define the term “association” and “foundation” and to give guidelines about their registration and their function.

Public financial support

Youth organisations may receive financial support through the “Youth Initiatives” funding scheme. The “Youth Initiatives Project” is administered by the Youth Board of Cyprus and provides funding to activities organised by young people and youth organisations. The source of Youth Initiatives Project is solely national and it is part of the Youth Board’s budget.

The Youth Initiatives Project provides support for a variety of activities, including conferences, workshops, cultural events (concerts, art exhibitions, CD/short film/documentary creation, book publishing, procurement of library books, and printing manuals), social intervention projects, sports activities, excursions, festivals, campaigns, as well as the provision of furniture and equipment for youth NGOs. Notably, the assistance with furniture and equipment enables youth organisations to enhance their facilities dedicated to youth initiatives.

Due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the program  “ReCOVer20” was announced and implemented within 2020 by the Youth Board of Cyprus. The program provides funding for pilot actions or programs / activities aimed at addressing the local effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the sense of solidarity and practical support to individuals, groups of individuals and communities that have affected by the pandemic crisis. The main goal of the Program is to mobilise young people themselves to plan and implement actions in the fields of culture, prevention, information, dealing with psychosocial and other problems that arose through the pandemic. In total, 86 applications  were funded under this scheme, with the grant amounting to €266 151 according to the 2020 infographics published by the Youth Board.

Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

There are no specific national or large-scale initiatives aiming to increase the diversity of young people participating in youth organisations.