Die Ostholsteiner

What Die Ostholsteiner does

Die Ostholsteiner is a non-profit social services organization (gemeinnützige GmbH) headquartered in Eutin, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, operating under the legal name Sozial-rehabilitative Dienstleistungen – Die Ostholsteiner gGmbH. It provides an integrated continuum of disability services — vocational training (Berufsbildungszentren), sheltered workshops (Werkstätten für angepasste Arbeit in Eutin, Oldenburg, Heiligenhafen, and Schwentinental), day facilities (Tagesförderstätten), four residential homes (Wohnhäuser), ambulatory assisted living (SeLmA), and vocational integration into the general labor market — to adults with intellectual, physical, and psychiatric disabilities in the Kreis Ostholstein region. As of 31.12.2025, the organization employs 341 staff (122 full-time, 216 part-time, 3 FSJ/BFD) supporting 585 workshop Beschäftigte and 25 TaF visitors.

Its commercial activities include market-facing inclusion enterprises operated through the wholly-owned subsidiary OHDG: building/glass/specialty cleaning, garden and landscape services, nature conservation, the Hotel SeeLoge (opened 2022), and the Lichtblick Filmtheater cinema, plus retail brands Scandy (Eutin) and TalenteHaus (Oldenburg) and the lichter°meer lamp line. Co-sponsored by Stiftung Parität Schleswig-Holstein (since 2020) and Lebenshilfe Ostholstein e.V., the organization holds DIN EN ISO 9001 certification (since 1998) and is a member of Charta der Vielfalt.

The business model is funded primarily through the German social welfare framework under §79 SGB XII via the Landesrahmenvertrag Schleswig-Holstein, supplemented by B2B workshop contracts (industrial, commercial, and public-sector clients), employer participation in the Berufliche Integration program (with 50% Ausgleichsabgabe credits under §140 SGB IX), and revenue from inclusion enterprises and retail. Go-to-market is community-led: Start-Beratung intake, referrals from Sozialämter/Integrationsämter/schools, employer partnerships, and word-of-mouth within the regional disability community. The organization does not use paid advertising, relying instead on its website (standard German and Leichte Sprache), the biannual HERO newspaper, regional events, and the IBuQ continuing-education program.

Name

Die Ostholsteiner

Legal name

Sozial-rehabilitative Dienstleistungen – Die Ostholsteiner gGmbH

Website

https://die-ostholsteiner.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Die Ostholsteiner is a non-profit gGmbH based in Eutin, Schleswig-Holstein, that provides vocational training, sheltered workshops, residential homes, ambulatory assisted living, and inclusion enterprises for adults with disabilities across the Kreis Ostholstein region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (62431), Individual and Family Services (6241), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Community Housing Services (624229)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN), Disability & Chronic Condition Care Coordination (EDALAFAI)

Keywords

• Vocational rehabilitation services
• Sheltered workshop programs
• Assisted living services
• Disability employment services
• Social welfare support

Headquarters

HQ city

Eutin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social welfare funding (SGB XII): Core funding is provided under the Landesrahmenvertrag für Schleswig-Holstein nach §79 Abs. 1 SGB XII — i.e., government social welfare payments for disability services covering vocational workshops, day facilities, housing, and education. Revenue is not derived from product sales or private contracts as the primary model.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Die Ostholsteiner is a non-profit social services organization that provides a comprehensive integrated portfolio of disability services for adults with intellectual, physical, and psychiatric disabilities in the Ostholstein region of Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. Core offerings span vocational workshops (Werkstätten für angepasste Arbeit) in five locations, supported residential housing in four Wohnhäuser, vocational training through Berufsbildungszentren, day support facilities (Tagesförderstätten), ambulatory assisted living (SeLmA), and community-based vocational integration. Complementary commercial activities include B2B workshop services (document destruction, metal processing, packaging, catering, landscaping), retail outlets selling handcrafted goods (Scandy, TalenteHaus, lichter°meer), and inclusive hospitality operations (Hotel SeeLoge, Lichtblick Filmtheater).

Product overview

Die Ostholsteiner is a nonprofit social services organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services for people with disabilities across four main areas: Arbeit (Work), Wohnen (Living), Bildung (Education), and Freizeit (Leisure). The core service structure includes Werkstätten für angepasste Arbeit (workshops with multiple locations in Eutin, Oldenburg, Heiligenhafen, and Schwentinental), four residential homes (Wohnhäuser) providing communal living, Berufsbildungszentrum (vocational training centers), and Tagesförderstätten (day care facilities). The SeLmA program provides ambulatory assisted living for those in their own apartments. Vocational integration services help place people in the general labor market. Consumer-facing products include the Scandy gift shop and TalenteHaus workshop/store selling handcrafted ceramics, candles, and wood products. Subsidiary inclusion companies (OHDG, WALK) operate in cleaning, gardening, hospitality (Hotel SeeLoge), and cinema (Lichtblick Filmtheater). The portfolio is connected through shared infrastructure and staff across locations, enabling cross-selling of services and holistic support for clients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• OHDG (Ostholsteiner Dienstleistungsgesellschaft): Inclusive enterprise offering cleaning, gardening, nature conservation, gastronomy, cinema and hotel services.
• Lichtblick Filmtheater
• Hotel SeeLoge
• WALK
• lichter°meer
• Scandy
• TalenteHaus
• SeLmA (Selbstständig Leben mit Assistenz)
• BerufsPerspektiven

Quantifiable outcome

• Employer Ausgleichsabgabe credit of 50% of workshop invoice amounts (§140 SGB IX)

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Der Paritätische Schleswig-Holstein (DPWV / Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of two primary co-sponsors (Gesellschafter) of Die Ostholsteiner gGmbH. Originally DPWV (Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband), later transitioned to Stiftung Parität Schleswig-Holstein following a shareholder change in 2020. Provides institutional backing, guidance on social welfare standards, and access to the broader Paritätischer network of social service organizations.
• Lebenshilfe Ostholstein e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor (Gesellschafter) of Die Ostholsteiner alongside Der Paritätische Schleswig-Holstein. Founded 1961, the Lebenshilfe Ostholstein represents parents and relatives of people with disabilities and has been a co-founding partner since the organization's origins in 1973.
• OHDG – Ostholsteiner Dienstleistungsgesellschaft mbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA wholly-owned subsidiary of Die Ostholsteiner. An inclusion enterprise (Inklusionsunternehmen) operating in the primary labor market, providing building/glass/specialty cleaning, property management, garden and landscape services, nature conservation services, gastronomy, cinema (Lichtblick Filmtheater), and the inclusive hotel SeeLoge. The subsidiary was formerly VDS, then renamed OHDG in 2008, with WALK merged in 2019.
• WALK gGmbH – Werkstatt für Arbeit, Landschaft und KulturminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded 2014 as a second inclusion enterprise of Die Ostholsteiner, operating at Dannau with nature conservation services. Merged into OHDG in 2019 but continues to operate under the WALK brand.
• Lichtblick Filmtheater OldenburgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCinema operated by OHDG in Oldenburg i.H. (Schuhstraße 97). A community-oriented entertainment venue that also serves as a work and social inclusion opportunity for people with disabilities.
• Hotel SeeLoge EutinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInclusive hotel operated by OHDG at Bleekergang 4-6, Eutin, opened 2022. Combines hotel, restaurant, and café services with meaningful employment for people with disabilities in the hospitality sector.
• FLEK-Gruppe (Freiwilligendienste, Landesverbände, Kinder- und Jugendhilfe, Eingliederungshilfe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFLEK-Gruppe is a network of social service organizations (including Die Mürwiker, Stiftung Drachensee, Marli GmbH, and Die Ostholsteiner) that shares best practices, coordinates volunteer services (BFD/FSJ), and cross-references job openings. Die Ostholsteiner publishes FLEK partner job vacancies on its website.
• Die Mürwiker GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial services provider in Flensburg. A FLEK-Gruppe partner with whom Die Ostholsteiner cross-publishes job vacancies and may share FSJ/BFD participants.
• Stiftung DrachenseeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial services foundation, FLEK-Gruppe partner. Cross-publishes job vacancies with Die Ostholsteiner.
• Marli GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSocial services provider, FLEK-Gruppe partner. Hosts joint internal reporting office (Meldestelle) for whistleblower protection under HinSchG.
• WOHn-gut Ostholsteiner gGmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing association partner. Collaborated with Die Ostholsteiner on the SeLmA Wohnprojekt Seestraße in 2024, developing shared housing for people with disabilities.
• lichter°meer (Leuchtenmanufaktur)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA product brand of Die Ostholsteiner producing designer lamps made by people with disabilities. Marketed online at lichterpunktmeer.de and featured at the Nuremberg Werkstätten-Messe. Demonstrates inclusion enterprise product development.
• Gesellschaft für Unterstütze Kommunikation e.V.minorOthersProfessional membership organization for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC). Die Ostholsteiner is a member and applies UK methods (Piktogramme, Gebärden, electronic communication aids) across its services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Caritas Schleswig-Holstein: Regional Caritas association operating social and disability services in Schleswig-Holstein under a different welfare-association umbrella (Catholic vs. Paritätisch). Adjacent competitor in the same regional market for social welfare funding and client referrals.
• Diakonie Schleswig-Holstein: Protestant social welfare association in Schleswig-Holstein. Operates comparable disability, housing, and vocational integration services through member organizations in the same regulatory and funding environment.

Others

• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest social lottery and funding organization for disability inclusion projects. Not a direct operator but a major funding partner for inclusion projects in the same disability-services space and a thought-leader shaping policy direction.

Direct peers

• Marli GmbH: Lübeck-based social services provider and FLEK-Gruppe partner. Operates disability workshops, residential, and integration services in the neighboring Lübeck region with comparable service breadth and statutory funding model.
• Die Mürwiker GmbH: Social services provider in Flensburg and FLEK-Gruppe partner. Provides sheltered workshop, residential, and integration services for people with disabilities in northern Schleswig-Holstein under an analogous legal and funding framework.
• Stiftung Drachensee: Kiel-based social services foundation and FLEK-Gruppe partner. Operates comparable disability vocational, residential, and inclusion services in Schleswig-Holstein with a similar WfbM funding model and cross-publishes job vacancies with Die Ostholsteiner.

Broad incumbents

• Lebenshilfe Schleswig-Holstein: State-level umbrella association of Lebenshilfe local chapters. Die Ostholsteiner is co-sponsored by Lebenshilfe Ostholstein, which is itself part of this broader network; the state association operates comparable WfbM, housing, and family-support services across Schleswig-Holstein.
• Der Paritätische Schleswig-Holstein: State branch of the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband, the co-sponsoring umbrella of Die Ostholsteiner via Stiftung Parität Schleswig-Holstein. Coordinates and accredits member social-service organizations operating comparable disability and welfare services across the state.
• Stiftung Bethel: One of Germany's largest non-profit social-service operators, headquartered in Bielefeld. Operates an extensive WfbM, residential, and inclusion-enterprise portfolio across many regions, providing a national-scale reference point for Die Ostholsteiner's service model.
• Evangelische Stiftung Volmarstein: Major Protestant-affiliated non-profit in North Rhine-Westphalia operating comprehensive disability services including workshops, residential homes, schools, and clinics. Comparable in service breadth and integrated social-enterprise structure but operates at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/die-ostholsteiner-ggmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Die Ostholsteiner