Lebenshilfe Bremen e.V.

What Lebenshilfe Bremen e.V. does

Lebenshilfe Bremen e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in Bremen, Germany, founded in 1960 by parents of children with intellectual disabilities to provide social services and advocacy for people with cognitive disabilities. The organization has grown into a multi-line operation spanning direct social services, accessible-communications production, retail, travel, and vocational training, with 49 employees and continued affiliation to the federal Bundesvereinigung der Lebenshilfe since 1961.

Its commercial and operational core is the "Büro für Leichte Sprache" (Office for Easy Language) — Germany's oldest such office, established in 2004 — which produces plain-language communications, document translations, and a proprietary image library (669+ images) for clients requiring accessible content under BITV 2.0 and WCAG standards. These assets are distributed through an e-commerce shop delivering digital products globally and physical products across the EU, and were extended in 2025 with the launch of the "Treffpunkt Leichte Sprache" mobile application. Sub-brands LH Tours (accessible travel), Lebenshilfe Fundgrube (secondhand goods), and Hilfswerk Bremen (aid services) diversify the operational footprint, and a forthcoming HEP Ausbildung vocational training program (autumn 2026) adds credentialed education revenue.

The business model blends public-sector funding for regional social services in Bremen, commercial revenue from low-priced digital and print Easy Language products sold online, donations and membership fees, and income from ancillary services (travel, secondhand retail, training). Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The organization's competitive position rests on first-mover brand equity in Easy Language, a national advocacy-network affiliation, and a specialized content library — but not on proprietary technology or AI capability.

Name

Lebenshilfe Bremen e.V.

Legal name

Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung Bremen e.V.

Website

https://lebenshilfe-bremen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Non-profit founded in 1960 in Bremen, Germany, providing social services and Germany's oldest Easy Language accessibility-products business for people with intellectual disabilities, distributing via a global e-commerce shop and a 2025-launched mobile app.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Translation and Interpretation Services (54193), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK)

Keywords

• Disability social services
• Easy language translation
• Intellectual disability support
• Accessible communication services
• Residential care services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Services Funding: Core funding from government social welfare programs including disability services (Eingliederungshilfe), child and youth welfare (Kinder- und Jugendhilfe) as a recognized social service provider.
2. E-commerce Sales - Digital Products: Sale of digital Easy Language images (PNG downloads), digital texts, stories, and downloadable materials through the online shop. Customers receive time and spatially unlimited, non-exclusive usage rights.
3. E-commerce Sales - Print Products: Sale of printed books, brochures, and physical materials in Easy Language. Includes customer rights for personal use and distribution in own actions.
4. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees from members who support the organization's mission for people with intellectual disabilities.
5. Donations and Support: Donations collected to support the organization's work and services for people with disabilities.
6. Travel and Leisure Services (LH Tours): Travel program offerings including vacation trips for people with and without disabilities, with available spots for 2026.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lebenshilfe Bremen e.V. is a non-profit charitable association founded in 1960 in Bremen, Germany, that provides social services for people with intellectual disabilities. Its offerings span counseling, residential and supported living, early intervention, school accompaniment, leisure and travel programs, a parent peer support network, and a secondhand furniture service. Since 2004, the organization has also operated Germany's oldest Easy Language (Leichte Sprache) translation office, selling digital image libraries, downloadable texts, and print products via an e-commerce shop, and runs the Treffpunkt Leichte Sprache mobile app.

Product overview

Lebenshilfe Bremen e.V. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1960 providing social services for people with intellectual disabilities. Rather than a single software product, its offering is a multi-service portfolio organized into two main divisions: (1) Social services including counseling, residential support (Wohnen), children/youth/family services, leisure and travel programs (Urlaub, Freizeit und Begegnung), a prevention office, and parent peer support; and (2) A commercial product arm — the Büro für Leichte Sprache (Office for Easy Language), which since 2004 has been Germany's oldest Easy Language translation service. This office produces and sells digital and print products including the "Leichte Sprache – Die Bilder" image library (669 Easy Language illustrations), digital texts and stories, print publications, bundle packages, and the "Leichte Sprache – Die Ausstellung" exhibition template kit — all available through the associated e-commerce shop at shop.lebenshilfe-bremen.de. A mobile app ("Treffpunkt Leichte Sprache") for Android and iOS provides community features around Easy Language.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Büro für Leichte Sprache (Office for Easy Language) Translation, proofreading, and training services that convert written content into Easy Language (Leichte Sprache), Germany's standardized plain-language accessibility format. Targeted at public institutions, companies, and organizations that need to make information accessible to people with cognitive disabilities.
• Beratung (Counseling Services) Comprehensive counseling portfolio including open counseling, legal advice, housing counseling, couple counseling, single-parent counseling, sibling counseling, migration-and-disability counseling, early-intervention counseling, and violence prevention. Covers the full lifecycle of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
• Kinder, Jugendliche und Familien (Children, Youth and Families) Portfolio of services for children, youth, and families including early intervention (Frühförderung), the Kinderoase day program, family support services, personal assistance in kindergartens, school accompaniment, ambulatory pedagogical support, child welfare services, and physiotherapy.
• Wohnen (Residential Living) Residential support options for adults with intellectual disabilities, including shared living arrangements, supported independent living, residential training, and advocacy services with dedicated women's representatives and resident councils.
• Urlaub, Freizeit und Begegnung (Travel, Leisure and Community) Leisure, recreation and travel programs including LH Tours vacation trips, the Auf Gehts program, disco events, KoBe services, senior leisure activities, sports and exercise programs, a grief café, and the 100% Werder partner initiative for social engagement of people with disabilities.
• Eltern für Eltern (Parents for Parents) Peer support program connecting parents of children with disabilities with experienced parent mentors who have navigated similar challenges, providing one-on-one guidance and emotional support.
• Lebenshilfe Fundgrube Secondhand furniture and household goods advisory service that helps people with disabilities furnish their apartments by sourcing good-quality used items across the Bremen city area.
• Treffpunkt Leichte Sprache App Free mobile app for Easy Language users, writers, and information seekers, providing dates, announcements, chats, videos, and audio files for community exchange around Easy Language topics.
• Leichte Sprache – Die Bilder (Easy Language Image Library) Digital library of 669 Easy Language illustration files (PNG, 300 dpi) for use in Easy Language texts and publications. Licensed for perpetual non-exclusive use on up to three individual computers, suitable for web and print.
• Digitale Texte / Geschichten (Digital Texts and Stories) Downloadable digital texts and stories in Easy Language, including easy-to-read fiction such as the "Der Fall im Treppenhaus" crime novel series, vacation stories, and educational publications. Delivered as PDFs with individual pricing.
• Leichte Sprache – Die Ausstellung (Easy Language Exhibition) Print and digital template package for organizing own Easy Language exhibitions, specialist days, and campaigns. Includes 21 poster templates, accompanying materials, an exhibition guide booklet, and pocket planners in WORD, PDF, and PNG formats.
• Printprodukte (Print Products) Printed books, brochures, and physical materials in Easy Language, including "Kindeswohl und Kindeswohl-Gefährdung" (7th edition), the "Zusammen kochen – ein köstliches Projekt" cookbook, and the "Der Fall im Treppenhaus" crime novel series.
• Präventionsbüro (Prevention Office) Specialized office addressing self-determined sexuality and violence prevention for people with disabilities, producing Easy Language educational films and providing counseling services on these topics.
• LH Tours (Lebenshilfe Tours) Specialized travel and vacation program offering group trips and excursions for people with disabilities, published as an annual travel catalog with available spots for 2026.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Bundesvereinigung der Lebenshilfe (Federal Association of Lebenshilfe)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1961The Landesverband Bremen serves as a link between the two local associations (Lebenshilfe Bremen and Lebenshilfe Bremerhaven) and the national Bundesvereinigung. They share common goals and work together for the rights and wishes of people with intellectual disabilities throughout Germany.
• Lebenshilfe BremerhavencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister organization in Bremerhaven. Both local associations (Lebenshilfe Bremen and Lebenshilfe Bremerhaven) are members of the Landesverband Bremen, founded in 1960.
• Stefan Albers (Illustrator)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional illustrator who created the 'Leichte Sprache – Die Bilder' image collection. Atelier Fleetinsel, 2013. Ongoing creative partnership for Easy Language visual materials.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aktion Mensch: Germany's largest private funding organization for disability inclusion and social participation. Comparable in disability advocacy and inclusion mission; complementary rather than competing service portfolio.
• Special Olympics Deutschland: German branch of Special Olympics providing sports, leisure, and inclusion programs for people with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in serving the same population with leisure and community engagement services.
• Bundesverband Leichte Sprache e.V. National industry association for Easy Language providers in Germany, setting standards and certifying Easy Language translators. Comparable in specializing in Easy Language services and certifying translation quality.
• Lebenshilfe Bremerhaven: Sister local association within the same Landesverband Bremen, sharing co-founders and the federal Lebenshilfe charter. Directly comparable in mission, service portfolio, and Bremen-region governance structure.
• capito (clar GmbH): European Easy Language and plain language service provider operating across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Directly comparable as a commercial competitor offering certified Easy Language translation, testing, and training services to organizations.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe: National umbrella federation of Lebenshilfe associations in Germany. Directly comparable as the parent-style federation to which Lebenshilfe Bremen reports through the Landesverband Bremen; both deliver disability services and Easy Language advocacy nationwide.
• Caritas Deutschland: Major German welfare confederation providing counseling, disability, housing, and family services nationwide. Comparable in social services delivery and reimbursement-based funding model, though faith-based and operating at much larger scale.
• Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband: Umbrella association for independent welfare organizations in Germany, including many disability service providers. Comparable in non-statutory welfare service delivery and counseling/housing offerings.
• AWO Bundesverband: Federal Workers' Welfare Association providing disability services, youth welfare, and counseling across Germany. Comparable in integrated social services delivery and government-funded operating model.
• Diakonie Deutschland: One of Germany's largest welfare umbrella organizations operating disability, counseling, and youth services. Comparable in service breadth and government-funded social services model, though broader in scope (health, education, migration).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCSOZORxZETpiQoU0Qje4CJg
• Facebookfacebook.com/lhbremen
• Instagraminstagram.com/lebenshilfebremen
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/camber-of-industry-and-commerce-d

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

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 Lebenshilfe Bremen e.V.