Bottrop: Youth Policy in Focus – What's Moving in 2026

Youth Policy in Bottrop: From Prevention Projects to Inclusion Strategies

The city of Bottrop once again demonstrated its active commitment to youth support in February 2026. With the Youth Parliament YouPa and a variety of participation formats, the city administration is promoting the active involvement of young people in political and social processes. At the same time, concrete measures to promote mental health, inclusion, and democratic education are being advanced.

Prevention Project “Verrückt? Na und! – Psychologically Fit at School”

A central focus of the meeting was the implementation of the prevention project “Verrückt? Na und! – Psychologically Fit at School,” which is set to launch at three secondary schools in Bottrop. The goal is to strengthen mental health, reduce stigma, and bring support options closer to students and teachers. The project uses interactive formats such as role-plays and group work, making it particularly accessible and effective.

Funding is provided by a donation from the Bottrop City Savings Bank. Evaluation results already show high acceptance and effectiveness: 95.5% of students feel better informed after participating in the project day. This program is not only a contribution to local youth protection efforts, but also part of the national strategy “Growing Up Healthily.”

Youth Participation: Structural Development and Involvement

In the future, Youth Parliament groups will work in regular intervals on topics such as public transport, migration, education, and the environment. Ryan Nolte and Pervin Mamo were elected to key roles, signaling that youth participation in Bottrop is becoming structurally embedded. The Youth Parliament YouPa is not only a platform for involvement, but also a reflection of the social concerns and wishes of young people.

At the same time, it becomes evident that many young people often feel politically detached – due to concerns about powerlessness and a lack of recognition. To change this, participation opportunities in various areas are to be expanded. It is crucial not only to include young people, but also to take them seriously – without overwhelming them.

Inclusion and Equal Opportunities: A Central Challenge

The city of Bottrop is committed to removing barriers for disadvantaged young people. Inclusive offers are being reviewed and expanded, and cooperation with refugee accommodations and specialist services for disabled youth are in focus. Another goal is linguistic accessibility: offers in plain language and multilingual formats are being strengthened.

Implementing inclusion strategies is not only a matter of equality, but also a step toward a more open and diverse society. Young people with migration backgrounds, disabilities, or queer identities should not only be included, but actively involved in shaping the future.

Looking Ahead: The Youth and Children's Support Plan 2026–2030

The newly developed Youth and Children’s Support Plan (KJFP) for the legislative period 2026–2030 is a milestone for the long-term planning of youth support in Bottrop. It defines areas of action, priorities, and financial conditions and aims to make work with children and young people more systematic and sustainable.

The plan is also a tool to address structural challenges such as financial difficulties, staff shortages, and bureaucratic hurdles. At the same time, it is a signal of political recognition of the importance of youth support.

Conclusion: Youth Policy as an Investment in the Future

Bottrop demonstrates with its youth policy that the active involvement of young people is not only a democratic imperative, but also an investment in the future of the city. Prevention projects, participation formats, and inclusion strategies contribute to strengthening the living conditions of young people and seeing them as active shapers of society.

The challenges – financial pressure, bureaucratic hurdles, and lack of recognition – remain. Yet with the Youth Parliament YouPa, the KJFP, and a growing awareness of youth issues, Bottrop has set a clear course: to involve young people not just as participants, but to take them seriously as co-creators of the future.