What Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg GmbH does

Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg gGmbH is a non-profit charitable social services organization (gemeinnützige GmbH) headquartered in Mölln, Germany, and a subsidiary of the umbrella entity Lebenshilfewerk Mölln-Hagenow gGmbH (founded 2001). Founded in 1979, it operates alongside two sister subsidiaries — Lebenshilfewerk Hagenow gGmbH (1991) and Schneiderschere gGmbH (1990) — under a Christian-diakonic foundation with three shareholders: Norddeutsche Gesellschaft für Diakonie mbH, Lebenshilfe Herzogtum Lauenburg e.V., and Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit Behinderung Hagenow e.V. The group employs 600+ staff across 11 locations in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, serving approximately 850 vocational/work participants and 220+ residential clients in three districts (Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg, Landkreis Ludwigslust-Parchim, Landkreis Nordwestmecklenburg).

The organization's service portfolio spans four domains: (1) elementary/childhood services including integrative crèches, kindergartens, after-school care, and early intervention; (2) work and vocational training through sheltered workshops, inclusive cafés (Café Sophie, Café Marie, Café Flora), culture workshops, and the Arche-Hof Kneese ecological farm; (3) housing and leisure including residential groups, assisted independent living (Ambulant Betreutes Wohnen), senior day care, and 24-hour care facilities; and (4) commercial workshop services for private and B2B customers (printing, carpentry, metalwork, sewing, gardening, archive destruction, mailing/assembly). Core technology consists of standard social services management and care delivery infrastructure with no disclosed proprietary digital platform, AI, or API integrations.

Revenue is generated predominantly through government-mandated social insurance funding under German social law (SGB VIII — Child and Youth Welfare, SGB IX — Rehabilitation and Participation of Disabled Persons, SGB XI — Long-term Care Insurance), supplemented by reduced-rate (7% VAT) commercial workshop sales to private and B2B customers, café retail revenue, and charitable donations through the affiliated Stiftung Lebenshilfewerk Mölln-Hagenow (est. 2008). The go-to-market is institutional sales to government agencies, social insurance providers, and municipalities — there is no traditional commercial sales motion, as placements are determined through individual needs assessments and care plans. ISO 9001:2015 quality management certification was achieved in 2023.

Name

Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg GmbH

Legal name

Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg gGmbH

Website

https://lhw-zukunft.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg gGmbH is a non-profit social services organization within the Lebenshilfewerk Mölln-Hagenow group, providing disability support — childcare, sheltered workshops, residential care, and senior services — to 850+ vocational and 220+ residential participants across 11 locations in northern Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services for People with Disabilities

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Disability Services & Assistive Solutions (Accessibility, Assistive Tech) (BPAGALAM), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Special Needs After-School Care & Homework Support (HSAAAHAI)

Keywords

• Disability social services
• Vocational workshops
• Residential care
• Integrative childcare
• Sheltered employment

Headquarters

HQ city

Mölln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Social Services Funding: Government-funded social services through social insurance legislation (SGB VIII - Child and Youth Welfare, SGB IX - Rehabilitation and Participation of Disabled Persons, SGB XI - Social Long-term Care Insurance). Services are funded based on individual care assessments and placement agreements with funding bodies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg gGmbH is a non-profit social services organization providing comprehensive support for people with disabilities across all life stages. Core offerings include early childhood intervention and integrative childcare, vocational workshops with approximately 516 work places, residential groups and assisted independent living, senior day care, and 24-hour care facilities. The organization also operates inclusive cafés (Café Sophie, Café Marie, Café Flora), workshop-based B2B services (printing, metalwork, carpentry, gardening), and sells handcrafted products. Services are delivered across 11 locations in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, funded primarily through German social insurance legislation (SGB VIII, IX, XI).

Product overview

Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg GmbH is a social services organization providing comprehensive support for people with disabilities across all life stages. The organization operates as part of the Lebenshilfewerk Mölln-Hagenow verbund, which includes three subsidiaries: Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg gGmbH, Lebenshilfewerk Hagenow gGmbH, and Schneiderschere gGmbH. The product and service portfolio spans four main areas: (1) Elementarangebote (elementary offerings) including integrative childcare, kindergartens, and early intervention services; (2) Arbeit und berufliche Bildung (work and vocational training) featuring workshops with approximately 850 work positions, inclusive cafés (Café Sophie, Café Marie, Café Flora), culture workshops, and vocational education measures; (3) Wohnen und Freizeit (living and leisure) comprising residential groups, assisted living, senior day care, and 24-hour care facilities; and (4) Service offerings for private and business customers including digital printing, garden maintenance, metalworking, sewing, carpentry, and household services. The organization also produces and sells handcrafted products including candles, wooden rocking horses, lanterns, birdhouses, fire baskets, and garden furniture. With over 600 employees across multiple locations in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the organization focuses on inclusion and integration of people with disabilities into society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Café Sophie: A coffee shop and roastery in Hagenow opened in 2014, providing 10 inclusive jobs for people with disabilities. Offers self-roasted coffee, homemade cakes, and catering.
• Café Marie
• Café Flora
• LHW Wertstücke
• Isshoni Klecks

Products and services

• Integrative Kinderkrippen (Integrative Crèches)
• Integrative Kindertagesstätten (Integrative Kindergartens)
• Integrative Hortgruppen (Integrative After-School Care)
• Pädagogische Frühförderung (Early Childhood Intervention)
• Beratungsstelle für Integration (Integration Advisory Service)
• Werkstätten für Menschen mit Behinderung (Vocational Workshops)
• Café Sophie (Hagenow)
• Café Marie (Boizenburg)
• Café Flora (Mölln)
• Wohngruppen (Residential Groups)
• Ambulant Betreutes Wohnen (Assisted Independent Living)
• Senioren-Tagesstätten (Senior Day Care)
• Pflege- und Fördereinrichtung (24-Hour Care Facility)
• Kultur-Werkstatt (Cultural Workshop)
• Digitaldruck und Copy-Shop (Digital Printing and Copy Shop)
• Hauswirtschaftliche Dienste (Household Services)
• Metall-Arbeiten und Schlosserei (Metalwork and Locksmith)
• Näh-Atelier und Näh-Werkstatt (Sewing Atelier)
• Tischlerei (Carpentry Workshop)

Quantifiable outcome

• 850+ vocational training and work places across 7 workshop locations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Norddeutsche Gesellschaft für Diakonie mbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor shareholder of Lebenshilfewerk Mölln-Hagenow gGmbH. Diaconic foundation providing strategic governance and alignment with Protestant social values.
• Lebenshilfe Herzogtum Lauenburg e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder and shareholder of LHW Mölln-Hagenow and LHW Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg. Local advocacy organization for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit Behinderung Hagenow e.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founder and shareholder of LHW Hagenow. Local advocacy organization representing people with disabilities in the Hagenow region.
• Diakonisches Werk Schleswig-Holstein - Landesverband der Inneren Mission e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level diaconic umbrella organization for Schleswig-Holstein, providing advocacy and support for diaconic social services.
• Diakonisches Werk Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level diaconic umbrella organization for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, supporting social service providers.
• Landesverband der Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung Mecklenburg-Vorpommern e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level Lebenshilfe association providing expertise and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.
• Landesverband der Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung Schleswig-Holstein e.V.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level Lebenshilfe association for Schleswig-Holstein providing professional development and advocacy.
• Unternehmerverband Norddeutschland Mecklenburg-Schwerin e.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional business association supporting economic development and networking for member companies.
• Freie berufliche Schule für Soziales in Westmecklenburg (fbs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVocational school for social professions. Provides practical training opportunities for students in LHW facilities.
• NCS Norddeutsche Catering + Services GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatering company providing meals to LHW facilities and potentially extending LHW food services to broader market.
• Biosphärenreservat SchaalseemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCertified biosphere reserve partner. Arche-Hof Kneese received 'Für Leib und Seele' certification for sustainable agricultural products.
• Biosphärenreservat Flusslandschaft ElbemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBiosphere reserve partner. Café Marie and Boizenburg workshops received 'Für Leib und Seele' certification.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Von Bodelschwinghsche Stiftungen Bethel: One of Germany's largest diaconal social-services providers, operating extensive Werkstätten, residential facilities, and clinics for people with disabilities. Directly comparable in full-lifecycle disability services and SGB-financed delivery model.
• Diakonie Deutschland: National umbrella organization of Protestant diaconal social services. LHW's parent shareholder (Norddeutsche Gesellschaft für Diakonie) belongs to this network; comparable in providing disability, youth, and senior services under SGB-financed models.
• Bundesvereinigung Lebenshilfe: National federation of Lebenshilfe associations in Germany. LHW Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg is a regional member; the federal body sets advocacy, quality, and policy direction for the same disability-services mission across all member organizations.
• AWO Bundesverband: Workers' welfare association operating nationwide disability, youth, and senior services including Werkstätten and residential care. Directly comparable as a large, federally funded nonprofit social-services network.
• Caritas Deutschland: Catholic counterpart to Diakonie, operating Werkstätten, residential care, and youth services across Germany. Competes for the same SGB-funded contracts and inclusive-employment mandates.
• Stiftung Liebenau: Catholic foundation providing Werkstätten, residential care, education, and senior services for people with disabilities in Baden-Württemberg and beyond. Mirrors LHW's lifecycle coverage and SGB-financed operating model.

Regional players

• Diakonisches Werk Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: State-level diaconal umbrella for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, strategic partner of LHW. Operates comparable disability and senior services in the same state under identical SGB financing rules.
• Lebenshilfe Hamburg: Regional Lebenshilfe association serving Hamburg with Werkstätten, Wohngruppen, and early-intervention services. Operates the same inclusive-employment and SGB-financed care model as LHW but in a different (urban) geography.
• Diakonisches Werk Schleswig-Holstein: State-level diaconal umbrella organization for Schleswig-Holstein, already a strategic partner of LHW. Operates overlapping disability, youth, and senior services in the same federal state under the same SGB financing framework.

Direct peers

• Lebenshilfe Schleswig-Holstein: State-level Lebenshilfe association covering Schleswig-Holstein, providing advocacy and disability services. Direct peer as a Lebenshilfe-licensed operator in the same region serving the same SGB IX population.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lebenshilfewerk-kreis-herzogtum-lauenburg-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Lebenshilfewerk Kreis Herzogtum Lauenburg GmbH