Freising youth fire brigade faces declining volunteer retention

The youth fire brigade in the Freising district is facing a decline in long-term volunteer retention. While there are currently over 500 active members and a new children's fire brigade is being established, recent data shows a concerning trend: out of 110 youths leaving the program, only 60 transitioned into active fire service, leaving 50 to leave the organization entirely.

District Youth Leader Roman Bittrich highlighted additional challenges regarding the support of youth leaders. Although the district requests leave from employers for youth activities like summer camps, this time is often granted as unpaid leave. Bittrich emphasized the need for employers to better value and support employees who contribute to society through this volunteer work to maintain motivation and combat the general trend of people leaving volunteer services.