Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Sachsen warns against cuts to voluntary services

The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband Sachsen fears that the planned cuts in the federal budget will destroy the structures for voluntary services. According to Paritätische Freiwilligendienste Sachsen gGmbH, 670 volunteer places could no longer be funded in Saxony from next year. There are enough young and older people who want to do this kind of service.

The federal government's draft budget envisages cuts of 40 million euros nationwide. They affect both the Voluntary Social and Ecological Year (FSJ and FÖJ) and the Federal Volunteer Service. However, the associations urgently need this money, as it is already impossible to maintain the quality of the services due to general cost increases.

According to the association, a total of 5,573 people did voluntary service in 2023/24. They were deployed in hospitals, daycare centers, schools, sports clubs or in helping the disabled and refugees, among other places.