On November 18, the General Council of Val-de-Travers will look into a major transformation project for the Barak youth center. The municipal executive proposes to internalize this essential institution dedicated to young people in the region, while requesting a loan of 105,000 francs for necessary renovations.
An evolving support model
Since 2016, the Barak center has benefited from an annual subsidy, covering part of the management costs of this reception area. Created by the Barak association, this structure is unique in the region: it offers young people a secure space, supervised by professionals. However, growing budgetary constraints motivated the Municipal Council to propose a reorganization aimed at sustainably stabilizing its operation.
Missions and role of Barak
The Barak center is not limited to a leisure space; it constitutes a tool for social inclusion and prevention, in line with the values of socio-cultural animation. This area aims to promote living together and the personal development of young people while taking into account their social and cultural realities.
Barak's mandate is based on three major axes:
- Prevention of risky behavior,
- Citizenship education,
- Personal development and the promotion of social bonds.
Barak, thanks to its free welcome, attracts young people from various backgrounds every year, offering them a refuge outside the family environment. Its facilitators trained in social work are benchmarks for young people, detecting risky situations early and directing young people to the competent services when necessary.
An essential structure in a region with limited options
The Barak center is the only place dedicated to young people in Val-de-Travers. The absence of this service could expose young people to risks of isolation, with a potential impact on community relations and public safety. The Barak center helps reduce social tensions by providing a safe and adapted space, and by avoiding informal gatherings in public places.
A reorganization designed for the long term
The Municipal Council proposes to integrate Barak into the service of social cohesion. This approach aims for simplified management, a reduction in operational costs and reinforced coordination with other local actors, such as the Carrefour Foundation and street educators. The current allocation of 1.3 full-time equivalents will be adjusted to 1.1 full-time equivalents, with a new timetable refocused to optimize available resources.
Suggested times:
- Tuesday: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: 1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
- Friday: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 2:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
After the forced reduction of visits in 2020 and 2021, activities fully resumed in 2022 (subject to compulsory mask wearing until April). Last year, the center recorded 5,793 visits for 166 openingsi.e. an average of 35 young people per half day of opening. In 2023, attendance stabilized with 5,700 visits for 157 working days. The first half of 2024 confirms this attendance, testifying to the constant appeal of the activities offered.
Towards a sustainable future
The Municipal Council hopes that this internalization will allow Barak to continue his action in the service of local youth. In addition, the requested credit of 105,000 francs will be devoted to renovation work on the current building, owned by the Barak association since 2016. This renovation will provide young people with a more functional and secure environment.
Projected operating costs
The operating costs projection below is dissociated from the operating costs of the building, in order to clearly distinguish the costs linked to the provision of the youth center and those linked to the building as such.
Future costs
| Later | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| Approximate salary costs | |
| Animation | 124’600.- |
| Divers | 5’500.- |
| Total | 130’100.- |
Current recipes
| Source of funding | Amount (CHF) |
|---|---|
| La Côte-aux-Fées subsidy (10 francs per inhabitant) | 5’000.- |
| Les Verrières subsidy (5 francs per inhabitant) | 3’000.- |
| Val-de-Travers subsidy (10 francs per inhabitant) | 105’000.- |
| Total | 113’000.- |
| Difference | 17’100.- |
The municipalities of La Côte-aux-Fées and Verrières support the proposal to internalize the center and maintain their current subsidies, subject to the vote on their budget by their respective legislatures.
By submitting this report, the Val-de-Travers Municipal Council reaffirms its commitment to youth. The Barak center is not only a space for young people, but also a valuable tool for social cohesion in the entire region.
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