“Formaat is there for both voluntary and professional youth workers in youth clubs, Formaat is there for you. We always give a helping hand if you have questions or if you are stuck with a problem. With pleasure.”
If someone is active in a youth club or is starting up one, you can not deny the following: you will face countless questions and problems you have to try to answer and to solve. Do we need a licence to draw beer? How do I know that we are secured adequately? How can I start up a non-profit organisation (NGO)? These are only a few examples of regularly emerging questions. This should not be considered as something onerous, but you should bear in mind the educational value. At first sight, it does not seem easy to find answers to these questions, but that is what Formaat is here for.
Whether you have questions about NGO legislation, accident liability, the search for a youth hostel or the implementation of a financial policy. You are at the right place! We also keep in touch with specialists if the problems are too complicated to be solved at once. Sometimes it might last somewhat longer, but do not worry – an answer is always given.
Formaat informs
Information about NGO legislation, taxes, insurances, SABAM (regulations about copyright taxes and fair compensations for artists), VLAREM (Flemish regulation of environmental permits), accountancy, NGO, youth work and infrastructure policies, acoustic measures or CAOs (collective labour agreements)? Formaat has it all. Even new youth clubs can call on Formaat. The Formaat website is the most important help desk for voluntary and professional youth workers in Formaat’s member youth clubs. Formaat also has a documentation centre and a vast and up-to-date data base.
Formaat publishes
- ‘Gevat’: the monthly information booklet (one free subscription for Formaat members)
- ‘Betoog’: critical magazine concerning youth club work (one free subscription for Formaat members)
- Info-Take-Aways: practical compilations with tips concerning relevant youth club themes such as house regulations, bar policies, finances, drug prevention, etc.
- Various specific brochures: such as ‘Fuifnummers’ (party guide) , ‘Gemeentewijzer’ (municipality guide), ‘Infrastructuur’ (infrastructure) and ‘Jongerenculturen’ (youth cultures)
- www.formaat.be: the online guide for written publications with information, facts, activities, online youth club calendars, a calculator for copyright taxes, etc.
Formaat organises trainings
Formaat wants its training offers to be suitable for all youth club volunteers and professionals. At the “kwartee-weekends” youth club professionals and volunteers from about forty youth clubs come together for a practical training on a certain topic. Formaat offers one-day trainings regarding youth club themes to its core members and board members. On the provincial level Formaat offers more specific training initiatives.
There are also specific trainings for youth club volunteers, like “Jeugdhuisnavigator” (certified head animator) and “Instructeur” (certified instructor).
Moreover, we organise trainings on audio engineering for youth club members who operate PA-systems themselves.
To professional youth club workers Formaat offers specific modules, intervisions and trainings. Even on the spot and requested by the youth clubs Formaat ensures adapted training on current youth club themes.
All information about the trainings can be found in “Formaat Vormingsbrochure” (Formaat Training Brochure) as well as on our website.
Formaat supports (on the spot)
Support in the establishment of a youth club and the implementation of NGO statutes, in the recruitment or evaluation of professional youth club workers, insurance portfolio, moments of crisis, acoustic problems and public fund regulations.
Formaat goes international
Formaat is the Flemish representative of its youth clubs within ECYC, the European Confederation of Youth Clubs. We are also a member of JINT, the national agency for the ‘Youth in Action’-programme.
As we are convinced that international co-operations are enriching, Formaat sends as many youth club workers and volunteers as possible to both interesting and exciting projects abroad. Through study travels, international seminars, youth club exchanges, we additionally establish international contacts and partnerships. Through their membership with Formaat our youth clubs are at the same time part of the ECYC family.
Formaat as a representative
Formaat represents its members’ interests on the local, provincial, regional, federal and international level.
Amongst others Formaat is represented in:
- the Flemish Youth Council and the provincial youth councils
- Steunpunt Jeugd (service centre for youth policy)
- ECYC
- JINT
- Sociare, the employers’ federation for socio-cultural work
- Paritair Comité 329 (Joint Committee 329)
With more than 360 members, the youth club sector is one of the most important employers in youth work.
Formaat stimulates co-operation
Formaat gathers its youth clubs together on regional meetings to start discussions on topics introduced by the youth clubs themselves. The most important aim is exchanging experiences.
Member are encouraged to put the Formaat logo on their membership card. This way more than 30,000 young people with a youth club membership card receive a discount on activities in more than 200 youth clubs.
Youth clubs can integrally take part in sportive activities, trainings or recreational events on the provincial and regional level.