Bottrop starts through: New House of the Associations should strengthen volunteering!

Bottrop starts through: New House of the Associations should strengthen volunteering!

In Bottrop, an important project is currently being launched that aims to strengthen volunteering in the city society. The establishment of a new volunteer agency, known as "Bottrop", is the focus of this initiative. According to bottrop.de , the project "Designed City", which successfully started in 2023, aims to promote commitment and support new ideas.

The central facility, the "House of Associations", is housed in the former animal feed market on Böckenhoffstrasse. Here Bottrop clubs are to find a contact point that promotes networking and exchange with each other. The design of the shop includes warm yellow tones for the walls, small offices, a reading corner and a bistro area. Areas for events and art projects are also planned.

The team and the vision

The team behind the foundation, consisting of Dorothee Beekhuis, Dagmar Kaplan, Stefanie Scholand, Beate Schmücker, Nora Schrage-Schmücker and Lena Spörl, follows the motto: "Who needs something and who can provide the appropriate help." The concern is to bring people together who would otherwise not get to know each other. The "Bottrop United" association is currently in the foundation and is officially registered. The foundation took place in December 2024 and received support from donations and by avoiding rental income on the part of the real estate operator.

For the "House of Associations", carpets from stocks were chosen by Ostermann to create an inviting atmosphere. Interested citizens can contact 01575 55673819 to learn more about the activities and offers.

volunteering in Germany

Voluntary commitment is of great importance in Germany: around 40% of the population, i.e. around 28.8 million people, voluntarily committed themselves for the common good or in organizations. These activities are not remunerated and spread over various areas such as sports clubs, culture, social services and education. According to blog-foerdermittel.de , 13.5% of volunteers are involved in sports clubs, while 8.6% are active in cultural areas.

Funding for voluntary commitment are diverse in Germany and are provided by various organizations, including foundations and state institutions. Examples of this are the Future Foundation for Volunteering Bavaria, which supports digital platforms for environmental initiatives, as well as the Ministry of Environment NRW, which promotes environmental education projects. There are also programs such as the European Solidarity Corps at EU level that support volunteering.

The annual meeting of the "committed city" will take place on March 12th at 5 p.m. in the "Haus der Vereine". Comprehensive information on volunteering at www.bottrop.de/ehrenamt is summarized on the website of the city of Bottrop.