What Christophorus-Werk does

Christophorus-Werk Lingen e.V. is a German registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1965 and headquartered in Lingen (Ems), Lower Saxony. The organization delivers an integrated portfolio of social services for people with disabilities, children and youth in need, and families with special-needs children. Its service lines span early intervention and developmental counseling, inclusive kindergartens, the Mosaik-Schule special education school, the Berufsbildungswerk vocational training center, the Werkstatt für Menschen mit Behinderung sheltered workshop, customized employment (Arbeit nach Maß), residential and day-care facilities, the Familienentlastender Dienst family relief service, the Praxis Agilo therapy practice, and children and youth welfare including emergency protection (Inobhutnahme).

Revenue is generated through two primary streams. The dominant stream is statutory funding from German social insurance carriers, government subsidies, and social assistance programs under the organization's recognition as a Freier Träger der Jugendhilfe and accredited Werkstatt. Pricing is negotiated with funding bodies rather than disclosed publicly. A secondary earned-income stream runs through social enterprises under the BES•SER brand (catering, garden and landscape services, easy-language office services), fair-trade retail (Handel mit Herz), ribbon and badge manufacturing (Schleifenwerkstatt), and contract assembly work for businesses. The organization reaches clients through community engagement, social services referrals, an active social media presence, a dedicated recruitment portal, and the semi-annual Blitzlicht house magazine.

Distribution is regional and direct: services are delivered at the organization's own facilities across the Lingen/Emsland region, supplemented by supported-employment placements in external workplaces and B2B contract work. The organization is not a technology company; its underlying infrastructure consists of care and training facilities, accredited program structures, and partnership networks with employers, schools, and social agencies. Recent strategic activity includes the June 2026 opening of a new Inobhutnahme emergency youth shelter in Klausheide and the rollout of the alle.digital digital participation project, signaling measured expansion of both geographic footprint and service surface.

Name

Christophorus-Werk

Legal name

Christophorus-Werk Lingen e.V.

Website

https://christophorus-werk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Christophorus-Werk Lingen e.V. is a German non-profit founded in 1965 that delivers integrated social services — vocational training, sheltered workshops, residential and day care, special education, therapy, and youth welfare — for people with disabilities, children in need, and families in Lower Saxony.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services for People with Disabilities

NAICS

Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310), Individual and Family Services (6241), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Workforce Development & Inclusive Employment (Job Training, Placement) (BPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM)

Keywords

• Disability social services
• Vocational rehabilitation
• Supported employment
• Residential care services
• Youth welfare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Services Funding: The organization operates as a recognized social services provider (Werkstatt für Menschen mit Behinderung) funded through German social insurance systems, government subsidies, and social assistance programs. Revenue is generated through contractual arrangements with funding bodies rather than direct client payments.
2. Product Sales and Services: The organization generates revenue through product sales including organic/fair trade products (Handel mit Herz), ribbon and badge manufacturing (Schleifen und Festabzeichen), catering services (BES·SER genießen), garden and landscaping services (BES·SER in Schuss), and business services for companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Christophorus-Werk Lingen e.V. is a non-profit social welfare organization that provides an integrated portfolio of services for people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, including vocational training, supported employment, sheltered workshops, residential and day care, early intervention, inclusive kindergartens, special education, family relief, therapy, and child/youth welfare. It also runs social enterprise divisions (BES·SER catering, garden services, easy language office) and retail operations (fair trade products, ribbon/badge manufacturing) to create employment opportunities for participants.

Product overview

Christophorus-Werk Lingen e.V. is a multi-service social welfare organization offering a comprehensive portfolio of services for people with disabilities and support needs. The organization operates as a platform of interconnected services including vocational training (Berufsbildungswerk), employment programs (Arbeit nach Maß), sheltered workshops (Werkstatt für Menschen mit Behinderung), residential and day facilities (Wohnen und Tagesstätten), early intervention (Frühförderung und Entwicklungsberatung), inclusive kindergartens (Kindertagesstätten), special education (Mosaik-Schule), family relief services (Familienentlastender Dienst), therapy services (Praxis und Therapie), and child/youth welfare (Kinder- und Jugendhilfe). Social enterprises under the BES•SER brand provide catering, garden services, and easy language services, while retail operations offer fair trade products (Handel mit Herz) and manufacturing (Schleifen und Festabzeichen). Inclusion programs including LinaS and alle.digital promote participation in sports, culture, and digital life. The organization functions as an integrated social services platform rather than a technology product company.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Berufsbildungswerk: Vocational training and education services for young people with disabilities.
• Arbeit nach Maß
• Werkstatt für Menschen mit Behinderung
• Wohnen und Tagesstätten
• Frühförderung und Entwicklungsberatung
• Kindertagesstätten
• Mosaik-Schule
• Familienentlastender Dienst
• Praxis und Therapie
• Kinder- und Jugendhilfe
• LinaS
• BES•SER genießen
• BES•SER in Schuss
• BES•SER verstehen
• Handel mit Herz
• Schleifen und Festabzeichen
• alle.digital

Products and services

• Berufsbildungswerk
• Vocational training and education for individuals with disabilities
• Arbeit nach Maß (Supported Employment)
• Customized employment programs matching individuals with appropriate work opportunities
• Werkstatt für Menschen mit Behinderung
• Sheltered workshop providing employment and training for people with disabilities
• Wohnen und Tagesstätten (Residential and Day Care)
• Residential and day care facilities providing living arrangements and daytime activities for individuals with support needs
• Frühförderung und Entwicklungsberatung (Early Intervention)
• Early intervention services and developmental counseling for young children and families
• Kindertagesstätten (Inclusive Kindergarten)
• Inclusive kindergarten and daycare services for children with and without disabilities
• Mosaik-Schule (Special Education)
• Special education school with tailored learning programs for students with disabilities
• Familienentlastender Dienst (Family Relief)
• Family relief services providing respite care and support to families caring for members with disabilities
• Praxis und Therapie (Therapeutic Practice)
• Therapeutic practice offering rehabilitation and therapy services, operated as Praxis Agilo
• Kinder- und Jugendhilfe (Child and Youth Welfare)
• Child and youth welfare services including emergency shelter (Inobhutnahme), youth housing, and crisis intervention
• Handel mit Herz (Fair Trade Retail)
• Retail initiative selling organic, fair trade, and regional products
• Schleifen und Festabzeichen (Ribbon and Badge Manufacturing)
• Manufacture of ribbons and commemorative badges, operated via Schleifenwerkstatt
• Auftragsarbeiten für Unternehmen (Contract Manufacturing)
• Contract manufacturing and assembly services for businesses, providing employment opportunities for people with disabilities
• BES·SER genießen (Catering and Gastronomy)
• Catering and gastronomy services for businesses and events under the BES·SER brand
• BES·SER in Schuss (Garden and Landscape Services)
• Garden and landscape maintenance services under the BES·SER brand
• BES·SER verstehen (Easy Language Office)
• Easy Language office providing simplified communication and translation services under the BES·SER brand
• LinaS (Inclusion in Sports, Leisure and Culture)
• Inclusion program promoting participation in sports, leisure activities, and culture for people with disabilities
• alle.digital (Digital Participation Project)
• Digital participation project aimed at promoting digital inclusion and access for people with disabilities

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hephata Diakonie: Diakonie-affiliated social services organization in Hessen offering Werkstätten, Berufsbildung, Wohnen, Jugendhilfe, and Therapie across a similarly integrated portfolio to Christophorus-Werk.
• Von Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: Large diakonische Stiftung in Bielefeld operating one of Germany's biggest Werkstätten networks alongside Wohnen, Bildung, and Jugendhilfe — directly comparable scale and integrated-service profile.
• Stiftung ICP München: Munich-based non-profit operating an integrated platform of Werkstatt, Wohnen, Förderung, and Therapie for people with disabilities — directly comparable multi-service model to Christophorus-Werk.
• Evangelische Stiftung Alsterdorf: Hamburg-based non-profit operating an integrated platform of disability services, workshops, vocational training, residential care, and social enterprises — structurally very similar to Christophorus-Werk's multi-service model.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization operating Werkstätten, Wohnen, Jugendhilfe, and Frühförderung across the country; comparable in mission and service breadth to Christophorus-Werk.
• Lebenshilfe (Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe): Germany's largest federation for people with intellectual disabilities, operating Werkstätten, Wohnstätten, Frühförderung, and inclusive education programs comparable to Christophorus-Werk's disability service portfolio, with significantly broader national scale.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Umbrella organization for Protestant-affiliated social services in Germany, with member entities operating disability, youth welfare, and vocational rehabilitation services comparable to Christophorus-Werk's programs.
• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO): Major German welfare federation providing disability services, youth welfare, vocational training, and residential care — a broad incumbent with overlapping service categories to Christophorus-Werk.
• Der Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband: Umbrella association for independent non-profit social services providers in Germany; many member organizations operate disability and youth welfare services comparable to Christophorus-Werk.

Regional players

• Kolping Deutschland: Catholic social association providing vocational training, supported employment, and youth welfare services in Germany; comparable in vocational rehabilitation and Jugendhilfe focus to Christophorus-Werk.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ChristophorusWerk
• Facebookfacebook.com/people/Christophorus-Werk-Lingen-eV/61563888451193
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christophorus-werk
• Instagraminstagram.com/christophorus_werk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christophorus-Werk