More support for educational and leisure activities for young people
Bill approved to tackle the social exclusion of children through agreements with local authorities, third-sector organisations and schools
The draft law delegating powers to the Government to support non-formal educational and recreational activities (A.S. 1766), which had already been approved by the Chamber of Deputies, was definitively approved today, 21 July, with 105 votes in favour, none against and 19 abstentions. The aim of the bill, which consists of four articles, is to encourage and support non-formal educational and recreational activities involving children and young people, to combat educational poverty and social exclusion, to encourage the active participation of the younger generation, including through their involvement in decision-making processes that affect them, and to support families through educational opportunities aimed at the physical and mental wellbeing of their children, from birth until they reach the age of majority. This is a significant initiative both to tackle the summer months, when schools close and services for young people are reduced, and to fill out-of-school time with sport, music, theatre and art workshops.
The mandate granted to the Government
The Government is therefore authorised to adopt, within nine months of the date on which this measure comes into force, one or more legislative decrees aimed at promoting the provision of non-formal educational opportunities designed to promote the wellbeing of minors, in accordance with the following guiding principles and criteria:
a) to update the provisions of paragraphs 213 to 215 of Article 1 of Law 207/2024 (the 2025 Budget Act), introducing measures in favour of local authorities, which give priority support to households with children who have special needs and to large families;
b) provide that the initiatives may also be carried out through agreements with neighbouring municipalities , at schools, summer camps, local socio-educational services, and centres providing educational and recreational activities for children;
c) to encourage the active involvement of third sector organisations and religious organisations running youth clubs or similar activities, through the forms of joint planning and joint project design provided for in Articles 55 to 57 of the Third Sector Code;
