Heist-op-den-Berg (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Stuw Heist, a vital youth care centre in Heist-op-den-Berg, may close due to a lack of funding and space. Director Luc De Win urges help; contact Sofie Blom for support.
As VRT News reported, a support centre called Day Centre Stuw Heist in Heist-op-den-Berg, a municipality in the province of Antwerp, Belgium, might have to close. According to officials, it helps young people and families who are having a hard time. The centre gives these young people individual care and a safe place for activities after school, on weekends, and on Wednesday afternoons.
They mentioned that this place is very important for young people who need help and a stable environment. But the centre can’t find a new building. The local government doesn’t have any buildings to offer, and the centre doesn’t have enough money to rent a place because of budget cuts. These cuts have made it hard for the centre to save money, so they can’t afford to rent a building.
What will happen to Stuw Heist in Heist-op-den-Berg?
According to Luc De Win, director of the Antwerp Youth Care department, Don Bosco Flanders, if Stuw Heist closes, it will be a problem for the community. The families and young people who depend on the centre would lose help. They would have to go to other places, like Jeugdhulp Don Bosco, which might be harder to get to or already be helping many people.
Director De Win says that not finding a new place and money problems are affecting the centre and the people it helps. He mentioned that losing Stuw Heist would mean less help for people, and it would stop the care that these young people and families need to live well.
“In Heist-op-den-Berg, there is a major shortage of youth care, our waiting list proves that.”
Luc De Win
Director De Win says the centre must be there. There’s a big problem in the area because not enough youth care is available, and the waiting list shows this. She mentioned that the centre is needed to help with these problems and to provide important support. Stuw Heist works well with other care providers in the area.
According to the mayor, they don’t have the right buildings now. If the centre needs money, the town will consider it. Stuw Heist is asking the community for help to find a building. They need space for offices, activities, and a kitchen. People with buildings can contact Sofie Blom at sofie.blom@jeugdhulpdonbosco.be. They want to keep helping young people and families in Heist-op-den-Berg.
