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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

The legal framework for the functioning and support of all types of organisations in Denmark is described in section 2.1

The Danish Youth Council (DUF) distributes national funding to children and youth organisations. See section 5.3

Public financial support

See section section 2.1

Initiatives to increase the diversity of participants

in 2020, DUF and the Tuborg Foundation have formed a 3-year strategic partnership, ‘All young people included in the community’, with a focus on new methods to include young people in DUF’s member organisations.

In August 2020, DUF and the Tuborg Foundation launched a campaign to include more underrepresented groups of young people in youth associations. Ethnic minorities and socially marginalised young people are underrepresented in associations. In the campaign, young people from different associations express what they value about being part of a youth organisation and reflect on which groups are part of the community and which groups are missing.

In November 2019, the Ministry of Culture launched a national pool of funding for non-formal general adult education projects (folkeoplysning) aiming to engage new participants. In order to receive funding, the projects must draw in new participants in non-formal general adult education activities, for instance by making non-formal general adult education activities more relevant for more people, by making activities in new set-ups and new surroundings. The total amount of the pool is DKK 2.8 million.

Diversity is one of the Association of the Danish Folk High Schools’ focus areas. The focus on diversity consists of five initiatives:

• Collection of knowledge and experiences
• Establishement of a network of folk high schools
• Cooperation with organisations, education institutions and businesses
• Diversity as a pedagogic theme
• Communication

Furthermore, a pool of funding is established. The purpose of the pool is to support activities at the Folk High schools, which contribute to a more diverse group of learners at the folk high schools. The activities could be:

• Out reach activities
• Teachers’ salary
• Expenses to meetings or conferences
• Introduction activities
• Reduction of self-payment

The diversity activities target groups such as:

• Young people with migrant background
• Refugees with legal residence in Denmark
• ELET (Early leaving from education and training)

The Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations (DGI) published an inclusion strategy in 2020.

The target groups are:

• People with a minority background
• Vulnerable children and young people
• People with fewer opportunities

DGI offers local associations:

• Inspiration for outreach measures
• Economic support:
  • Children and young people below the age of 25 may be entitled to financial support for membership fees and sports camps.

In 2019, the Ministry of Culture has launched a new fund called the “The Cultural Bridge” that supports projects, where children and young people in socioeconomically disadvantaged housing areas have the opportunity to meet and participate in art and culture. The purpose of the fund is to promote development of both new methods in the field and cooperation between actors in the field.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Culture has established a special fund to promote the inclusion in local sports associations of people with special needs or socioeconomically disadvantages. The total funding is DKK 19.2 million. 

Some municipalities offer “leisure pass” (fritidspas) to young people who otherwise would not have the possibility to participate in leisure activities. The leisure pass is economic support to for instance membership fee, equipment, participation in camps and transportation to and from the activity. The support amounts to DKK 1000 annually.

Broen Danmark (Bridge Denmark): Brigde Denmark supports marginalised children and young people in leading an active life among other young people.  The association pays for participant fees and sports equipment; thus enabling marginalised children and young people to participate in a positive community.

Dfunk sport: Dansk Flygtningehjælp Ungdom is a youth section of the organisation Danish Refugee council. Dfunk sport consists of three initiatives, sports teams, sports tournaments and outdoor activities for young Danes and young people with migrant and refugee background.

Game Denmark: Founded in 2002 in Denmark with a mission to create lasting social change through youth-led street sports and culture, GAME establishes innovative facilities and trains youth-leaders as instructors and role models in street sports and civil society. The young volunteers, Playmakers, lead practices in street basketball, street football, street dance, and parkour in underserved communities throughout Denmark, Ghana, Jordan, Lebanon, and Somaliland.