City and welfare organizations seal deals worth EUR 31 million for social infrastructure projects
Dortmund and Welfare Associations Secure Six-Year Funding Agreements for Social Infrastructure
In a significant move to secure and expand social infrastructure services, the city of Dortmund has signed new funding agreements with six prominent welfare associations. These agreements, which span from 2026 to 2030, amount to a total of approximately 31 million euros.
The agreements, approved by the city council on July 3, 2025, focus on offers for children and young people, with a particular emphasis on youth welfare, social work, and health. The funding will increase by around 6.1 million euros compared to the previous year, with a uniform increase of 2.4 percent intended to cushion expected cost increases.
Of the increased funding, 18 million euros will go to the youth office, 7.4 million euros to the social office, and 5.6 million euros to the health sector. The new agreements provide planning security for five years for the participating welfare associations, including AWO, Caritas, Diakonie, DRK, Paritätischer, and the Jewish Cultural Community.
One of the key initiatives to benefit from this funding is the North City League, a sports-pedagogical project with social worker support, which reaches over 2,000 children annually. The agreements also secure central offers for vulnerable groups, such as the psychosocial center for traumatized refugees.
Despite financial constraints at the state and federal levels, the city continues to provide support for these essential services. The collaborative effort between the city and the welfare associations is seen as a proven model that addresses current challenges.
The new agreements will replace the previous ones, which expire at the end of 2025, and will come into force on January 1, 2026. The welfare sector in Dortmund generates an annual revenue of 300 million euros and provides 17,500 jobs. However, the future needs and financial framework conditions remain uncertain.
These agreements represent a joint commitment by the city and the welfare associations to social responsibility, working together to provide vital services for the city's most vulnerable residents. For precise details, official documents from the Dortmund city administration or communications from the free welfare associations involved would be the authoritative sources to consult.
The six-year funding agreements will not only ensure the continued operation of the social welfare offices in Dortmund, but will also support health-and-wellness programs and sports initiatives for the city's children and young people, such as the North City League. The collaborative effort between the city and welfare associations, like AWO, Caritas, Diakonie, DRK, Paritätischer, and the Jewish Cultural Community, continues to prioritize science-based approaches for addressing current challenges, thereby promoting overall health and well-being.
