YOUth SPACE LINK across Europe

The image is divided into two sections: the left half is a photograph showing four casually dressed women posing in front of a large sign reading "Greetings from SOFIA," with three women crouching and one standing, set against a backdrop of a historic red-brick building and a clear blue sky. The right half features a white background displaying URBACT and EU Interreg logos at the top, large blue text reading "YOUth SPACE LINK across Europe" in the center, and a stacked list of cities—"Plasencia," "Torres Vedras," and "Sofia"—in blue text next to a purple-to-orange gradient bracket at the bottom right.

At the beginning of March, project coordinators from the Social Participation Office of the City of Lublin carried out visits to three partner cities of the URBACT Transfer Network YOUth SPACE LINK: Plasencia (Spain), Torres Vedras (Portugal) and Sofia (Bulgaria). The visits provided an opportunity to explore local youth-focused initiatives and exchange experiences on the development and management of youth spaces. The network’s Lead Expert also took part in the visits.

Plasencia – Developing Youth Spaces in a Medium-Sized City

The first stop was Plasencia, where participants visited, among others, the local Youth House and Factoría Joven, a space dedicated to the city’s young residents. The delegation also visited the Roberto Iniesta Centre, which is expected to open by the end of this year. The programme included working meetings with city representatives, including the Mayor and councillors responsible for youth policies and European funds. An important part of the visit was the exchange of experiences with local youth organisations involved in European projects.

Torres Vedras – Participatory Approaches to Youth Engagement

The next stage of the visit took place in the Portuguese city of Torres Vedras, where the coordinators explored several local youth spaces, including Espaço Primavera and Porta 10. The main venue for the meetings was Casa de Juventude, a building that until recently housed the Toy Museum and is now being transformed into a space for young people from Torres Vedras and the surrounding area. Discussions with representatives of the municipality and members of the local URBACT Group (ULG) focused on participatory methods used in youth work and ways of involving young people in the life of the city.

Sofia – Urban Youth Policies and a New Youth Centre

The final destination was Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria, where participants learned about initiatives delivered by the Directorate for Sports and Youth Activities and municipal programmes aimed at young residents. The delegation also visited the Sofia Innovation Lab, a venue hosting youth-related events, and the future youth centre, which is currently under construction.

Youth Spaces as an Inspiration for European Cities

Visits involving the network expert and project coordinators are an important part of the process of transferring Lublin’s Good Practice – the Young People’s Spaces network – to partner cities. Direct meetings with local project teams and visits to existing youth facilities help to build a better understanding of local needs and contexts, while supporting the joint development of solutions that encourage young people’s active participation in urban life.

The URBACT transfer network known as YOUth SPACE LINK is funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

Submitted by on 03/06/2026

Volodymyr Vityk

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