Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen

What Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen does

Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen e.V. is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded on September 28, 1960, in Gelsenkirchen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, as a local chapter of the national Lebenshilfe movement established in 1958. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of social services for children, youth, and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities, and for their families. Core services are organized around four operational hubs: the Frühförderstelle (free early intervention for children aged 0–6, operating since 1981), the Wohnverbund (residential care through Haus Lebenshilfe in Bulmke-Hüllen, opened 2000, housing 25 residents), the Schulbegleitung (school accompaniment deployed across 24 schools in Gelsenkirchen), and the Lebenshilfe Center (opened April 2008, serving as the main counseling, family support, leisure activities, and travel bookings hub). Adjacent service lines include barrier-free vacation trips, leisure programs (bowling, swimming, riding, cooking, fitness boxing, cinema), a Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) program, a volunteer engagement pipeline managed with Ehrenamtsagentur Gelsenkirchen, and the Lebenshilfe Rat self-advocacy council.

The organization employs approximately 150 staff and is supported by approximately 250 fee-paying members. It is governed by an elected board chaired by Frank Flieger, with heads of department for pedagogical direction (Kristina Roth), early intervention (Dorothee van Eerd), and residential care (Vicki Sindermann). Three staff coordinators manage the Schulbegleitung network and the wider Center team.

Revenue is sourced from four streams: regulated social security reimbursement under SGB IX (integration assistance) and SGB XI (relief and respite care) administered via the City of Gelsenkirchen's Referat Soziales; annual membership contributions; donations to the affiliated Stiftung Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen (banking partner Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen); and direct user fees for leisure activities (EUR 47–190 per semester) and travel packages (EUR 1,250–1,650 per trip). Frühförderung is provided free of charge to families. The organization's marketing approach is community-driven: a multilingual website with Easy Language (Leichte Sprache) versions, monthly newsletters, community events (Tanzcafé, Karnevalsparty, Aktionstag), partnerships with 24 schools and several leisure venues (FIREBOWL, Limitless Buer, Ländlicher Reit- und Fahrverein, Hotel Fousek), and coordinated advocacy campaigns with Aktion Mensch and Stadt Gelsenkirchen. The entity is affiliated with Landesverband Lebenshilfe NRW e.V. and Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe e.V., giving it access to state- and federal-level advocacy, standards, and resources within the German disability sector.

Name

Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen

Legal name

Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen e.V.

Website

https://lebenshilfe-gelsenkirchen.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen e.V. is a non-profit association in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, providing disability services — including early intervention, school accompaniment at 24 schools, residential care, leisure programs, and counseling — for people with intellectual and physical disabilities and their families, funded primarily through SGB IX social security reimbursement, memberships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Social Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG), Accessibility, Accommodations & Assistive Services (EDALAFAN)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Early childhood intervention
• School accompaniment services
• Assisted residential living
• Family support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Gelsenkirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Social Security Funding (SGB IX): Government-funded integration assistance regulated under Social Security Code IX. Funding flows through the city of Gelsenkirchen (Referat Soziales) for services including school accompaniment and residential care.
2. Member Contributions: Annual membership fees from approximately 250 members who support the association's mission.
3. Donations and Foundation: Donations to Stiftung Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen, including testamentary provisions, special appeals for events, and corporate donations. Bank: Sparkasse Gelsenkirchen, IBAN DE25 4205 0001 0101 1447 09.
4. Service Fees for Leisure Activities: Fees charged for leisure activities (Bowling, swimming, cooking courses) and vacation trips. Prices range from 47-190€ per semester for activities and 1,250-1,650€ for vacation packages. Financing available through SGB XI (relief services and respite care).
5. Day Structure Services: Day program services (Tagesstruktur) for people with disabilities living at home, offering activities and support during the day.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen e.V. is a non-profit association delivering social services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. Its core offerings include Frühförderung (therapeutic early intervention for children 0-6), Schulbegleitung (school accompaniment at 24 schools), Wohnverbund (residential living including Haus Lebenshilfe), Familienunterstützender Dienst (family support with leisure and travel), Freizeitangebote (recreational programs), Beratung (counseling on disability rights and financing), and a volunteer/Ehrenamt program.

Product overview

Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen is a non-profit association offering a comprehensive portfolio of social services for people with intellectual disabilities and their families. The core offerings are organized around the Lebenshilfe Center as the main access point, supported by specialized services including the Frühförderstelle (early intervention for children 0-6 years), Wohnverbund (residential living at Haus Lebenshilfe), Familienunterstützender Dienst (FuD - family support with individual/group care), and Schulbegleitung (school accompaniment at 24 schools). The portfolio extends to leisure programs (Freizeitangebote including bowling, swimming, cooking, horseback riding), travel services (barrier-free vacations), counseling on disability rights and financing, volunteer programs (Ehrenamt with training), and a voluntary social year (FSJ). The Lebenshilfe Rat enables self-advocacy for people with disabilities. Services are funded through membership fees, donations, and public assistance (SGB IX/XI).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Frühförderstelle (Early Intervention Services) Heilpädagogische Frühförderung (therapeutic early intervention) offering developmental support, diagnostic assessments, therapeutic play, and family counseling for children with disabilities or developmental delays from birth to school entry. Provided free of charge for families at the Paulstraße 6 center, in kindergartens, or at families' homes.
• Wohnverbund (Residential Living) Comprehensive residential care services operated through the Haus Lebenshilfe facility in Gelsenkirchen-Bulmke-Hüllen, providing housing for children, youth, and adults with disabilities in two groups for 16 children/youth and one group for 9 adults. Part of the Wohnverbund NRW network managed by Lebenshilfe Wohnverbund NRW gGmbH. Includes day structure programs (Tagesstruktur) for people with disabilities living at home.
• Schulbegleitung (School Accompaniment) School assistant service providing trained Schulassistenten (school accompaniment personnel) for students with disabilities at 24 schools across Gelsenkirchen, including Förderschulen, Grundschulen, Gesamtschulen, Realschule, and Waldorfschule. Includes help with daily school routine, conflict mediation, and promoting independence. Funded through SGB IX integration assistance.
• Familienunterstützender Dienst (FuD) - Family Support Service Family support service providing individual and group care, leisure activities, vacation trips, and day structure programs for children, youth, and adults with disabilities to enable participation in community life. Includes the Living Wild (LebensWild) group for individual weekend activities and the Wilde 9 bowling club.
• Freizeitangebote (Leisure Activities) Monthly and seasonal recreational programs including Bowlingtreff (190€/160€ semi-annual), Schwimmkurse Goldfisch and Schwimmclub (75€/month), Reitgruppe (90€/month), Walking group (64€/47€ semi-annual), Feierabendtreff (135€ semi-annual), Kochkurse for kids (130€/110€ semi-annual) and adults (180€/150€ semi-annual), KinoClub (130€ semi-annual), Pizza party (55€ per event four times per year), Fitnessboxen at Limitless Buer, and Kegelclub Wilde 9 at Hotel Fousek. Designed for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Reiseangebote (Travel Services) Barrier-free vacation trips for people with disabilities including Easter trip (1,600€), Whitsun trip (1,250€), Moselle trip (1,450€), and Noordwijk trip (1,650€), with full board, supervision, and accessible accommodations. Financing available through SGB XI relief services and respite care (Verhinderungspflege).
• Beratung (Counseling) Advisory services on disability-related topics including integration assistance, financing options, applications for support services, and guidance through bureaucratic processes. Provided at the Lebenshilfe Center.
• Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ) - Voluntary Social Year Voluntary social year program for young people aged 18-26 providing personal and professional development opportunities while supporting students in schools. Operational program providing stipended year-long service placements.
• Lebenshilfe Center Central service hub located at Kurt-Schumacher-Straße 379 in Gelsenkirchen, providing information, counseling, and access to all Lebenshilfe services including the family support service (FuD), leisure activities, travel programs, and school accompaniment. Serves as the first point of contact for families.

Quantifiable outcome

• Free early intervention services for children 0-6 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Elisabeth Käsemann-FamilienNetzwerk e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for cooking courses. The cooking course for adults is conducted jointly at their facility in Gelsenkirchen.
• Limitless BuerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFitness studio partner providing facilities for the weekly 'Fitnessboxen' (fitness boxing) course on Sundays.
• FIREBOWL GelsenkirchenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBowling venue partner - largest bowling facility in NRW - hosting the monthly Bowlingtreff meetup.
• Hotel und Restaurant FousekminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for the monthly Kegelclub Wilde 9 bowling activities. Provides barrier-free access and bowling assistance.
• Ländlicher Reit- und Fahrverein Gelsenkirchen-BuerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiding club partner hosting bi-monthly riding group activities for people with disabilities.
• Ehrenamtsagentur GelsenkirchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner for volunteer recruitment and coordination. Collaborates to expand volunteer opportunities and provides free extended police clearance certificates for volunteers.
• Landesverband Lebenshilfe NRWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level parent organization. Wohnverbund is a network combining multiple local Lebenshilfe associations with the state association in Hürth.
• Stadt GelsenkirchencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal partner for organizing the annual 'GE-meinsam Barrieren abbauen' action day and Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Gelsenkirchener Behindertenverbände und Selbsthilfegruppen (AGB).
• Lebenshilfe Wohnverbund NRW gGmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliated company managing residential living facilities across NRW, including the Haus Lebenshilfe in Gelsenkirchen.
• Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational parent organization. Lebenshilfe Gelsenkirchen is a member along with 493 other local associations and 16 state associations.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lebenshilfe-gelsenkirchen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 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 Gelsenkirchen