Sofa E.V.

What Sofa E.V. does

SoFa e.V. (legal name: Sozialpädagogische Familien- und Lebenshilfe e.V.) is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 1999 and headquartered in Achim, Lower Saxony, Germany. It operates as a freier Träger — an independent, free provider — of child, youth, and family welfare services, delivering a comprehensive portfolio across the SGB VIII (Child and Youth Welfare Act) and SGB IX frameworks. Core service lines include ambulant Hilfen zur Erziehung (family assistance §31, educational support §30, intensive individual measures §35, supervised contact §18, youth housing §34/35, clearing §27, 8a child protection counseling), school social work and school assistance (§35a SGB VIII) across Verden, Bremen, and Diepholz districts, open youth work at seven locations, and ambulatory integration assistance (§78 SGB IX) for adults with mental impairments via Tagescafés in Achim and Ottersberg.

The organization is not a technology company; its 'platform' is a network of seven physical youth centers, schools, family homes, and supervised residential units (including a 10-unit facility in Weitzmühlen) staffed by multi-professional pedagogical teams. Technology is limited to a WordPress-based website, location-specific Instagram channels for youth engagement, a simple online feedback tool, and standard administrative tooling — there are no proprietary technology platforms, APIs, or AI/ML systems.

SoFa e.V. earns revenue almost entirely through publicly commissioned contracts: services are paid for by Jugendämter (youth welfare offices) in Verden, Bremen, Diepholz, Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Rotenburg (Wümme), and Wesermarsch districts, with additional project-based grants from foundations such as Aktion Mensch (e.g., the 'Zaubern hilft!' project) and Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (DKJS). End-user families and youth do not pay directly; pricing is effectively set by public-sector reimbursement rates under SGB VIII/IX. The organization is led by Geschäftsführer Jan-Dieter Junge, holds AZAV certification as an education provider since 2013 (annual HZA audits), and operates as a member-governed association with no parent company or external capital backing.

Name

Sofa E.V.

Legal name

Sozialpädagogische Familien- und Lebenshilfe e.V.

Website

https://sofa-ev.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SoFa e.V. is a German non-profit association founded in 1999 that delivers child, youth, and family welfare services — including family assistance, school social work, open youth centers, and integration assistance — across seven locations in Lower Saxony and Bremen, funded primarily by Jugendamt contracts under SGB VIII and SGB IX.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth and Family Welfare Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Specialized Student Support (Foster/Homeless/Migrant/McKinney-Vento) (EDAJAIAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Coaching, Parent-Mediated & Home Visiting EI Services (EDACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Youth welfare services
• Family assistance programs
• School social work
• Community youth centers
• Integration assistance

Headquarters

HQ city

Achim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Public Funding (SGB VIII Youth Welfare): Core funding through contracts with youth welfare offices (Jugendämter) in Verden, Bremen, and surrounding districts for services under SGB VIII (Child and Youth Welfare Act). Services include family assistance (§31), educational support (§30), intensive individual measures (§35), supervised contact (§18), youth housing (§34/35), school social work, and open youth work.
2. Project Grants: Project-based funding from foundations and public donors for specific initiatives. Example: 'Zaubern hilft' project funded by Aktion Mensch.
3. Integration Assistance (SGB IX): Ambulatory integration assistance under §78 SGB IX for adults with mental impairments, providing daily support and psychosocial stabilization.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SoFa e.V. is a freier Träger (independent non-profit provider) of child, youth, and family welfare services under German SGB VIII and SGB IX statutes. It delivers ambulant social-pedagogical family assistance (§§ 18, 27, 30, 31, 35 SGB VIII), school social work and school assistance (§ 35a SGB VIII), open youth work at seven locations for children and youth aged 6-26, supervised youth housing, and ambulatory integration assistance (§ 78 SGB IX) for adults with mental impairments.

Product overview

Sofa E.V. (Sozialpädagogische Familien- und Lebenshilfe e.V.) ist ein freier Träger der Kinder-, Jugend- und Familienhilfe mit Sitz in Achim, gegründet 1999. Das Unternehmen bietet ein breites Portfolio an sozialpädagogischen Dienstleistungen: Hilfen zur Erziehung (SGB VIII) mit verschiedenen Hilfeformen wie Familienhilfe, Erziehungsbeistandschaft und ISE; schulische Angebote mit Schulsozialarbeit, Schulassistenz und nachschulischer Betreuung; offene Kinder- und Jugendarbeit mit Jugendtreffs an sieben Standorten; sowie Wiedereingliederungshilfen für Erwachsene mit psychischen Beeinträchtigungen. Hinzu kommen spezifische Projekte wie 'Rap im Buntentor' und 'Zaubern hilft!' sowie ein Feedback-Tool. Es handelt sich um ein dienstleistungsbasiertes Angebot ohne technische Produktplattform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hilfen zur Erziehung (Erziehungshilfe) Ambulant Hilfen zur Erziehung under SGB VIII for children, adolescents, and families facing challenging life situations, including sozialpädagogische Familienhilfe (§31), Erziehungsbeistandschaft (§30), intensive sozialpädagogische Einzelmaßnahme ISE (§35), Clearing (§27 Abs. 2), begleiteter Umgang (§18 Abs. 3), Jugendberufshilfe (§13), Flexible Hilfen, 8a child-protection counseling, betreutes Jugendwohnen (§34/§35), Ambulante Beschwerdestellen, and JGG-context offerings. Commissioned by Jugendämter in Verden, Bremen, and surrounding districts.
• Schulische Angebote (Schulsozialarbeit & Schulbegleitung) School-based social-pedagogical offerings including Schulsozialarbeit (counseling for students facing personal and family challenges), Schulassistenz in classic (§35a SGB VIII) and systemic variants, and nachschulische Betreuung for primary school children with homework support, social group work, and creative AGs. Delivered directly in schools across Verden, Bremen, and Diepholz districts.
• Jugend & Kultur (Offene Kinder- und Jugendarbeit) Open youth work for children and adolescents aged 6-26 at seven locations in Lower Saxony and four Bremen youth centers (JFH Haferkamp/Walle, JuBZ Walle, JFH Buntentor, Mädchen*Treff Hastedt), plus locations in Achim, Langwedel, Dörverden, Scheeßel, Sottrum, Tarmstedt, and Lemwerder. Includes Jugendtreffs, cultural projects, music and media projects, and holiday activities. Free and voluntary access.
• Wiedereingliederungshilfen (§78 SGB IX) Ambulatory integration assistance under §78 SGB IX for adults with mental illnesses or psychological impairments, providing daily structure, psychosocial stabilization, and Tagescafé (TaCa) services in Achim (Unterstraße and Brückenstraße) and Ottersberg (Mütterzentrum). Targets adults with limited independence who are not integrated into regular employment structures.
• Ambulant betreutes Jugendwohnen Weitzmühlen Stationary housing offer for adolescents and young adults in ten residential units at Weitzmühlener Dorfstraße 8-10, Kirchlinteln. Provides intensive support toward independence, including for unaccompanied minor asylum seekers. Operates under §34/§35 SGB VIII.
• Zaubern hilft! Inclusive project for children and youth with psychosocial challenges, funded by Aktion Mensch. Weekly workshops with a professional magician at Jugendtreffs across four Lower Saxony locations, designed to strengthen self-efficacy, courage, and joy through magic pedagogy.
• Rap im Buntentor Music project for youth aged 13-21 at Jugendfreizeitheim Buntentor in Bremen. A self-built recording studio enables participants to write their own lyrics, produce music, and learn recording techniques; sessions run weekly on Thursdays from 16:00-21:00. Documented as a 2025 expansion project.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Mütterzentrum Ottersberg e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for the Tagescafé (day café) in Ottersberg. The TaCa provides structured daytime activities and social integration for adults with mental impairments. Located at Mütterzentrum Ottersberg, Am Brink 1, 28870 Ottersberg, open Thursdays 13:30-16:30.
• Deutsche Kinder- und Jugendstiftung (DKJS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFunding partner indicated for youth center projects, including the Bauwagenprojekt (mobile project) at Jugendtreff Lemwerder.
• Hanseatische Zertifizierungsagentur (HZA)coreOthersAnnual certification body for SoFa e.V.'s AZAV quality management system. Conducts yearly audits to maintain status as an authorized education provider.
• Trägerkooperation Weyhe/DiepholzcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-provider cooperation in the Weyhe/Diepholz social space. SoFa e.V. participates with a seat at Leester Str. 71, 28844 Weyhe, and is active in various working groups. Contact: Birgit Klasen-Bohlen.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deutscher Caritasverband: Catholic-affiliated umbrella organization operating comprehensive child, youth and family welfare services including Hilfen zur Erziehung, Schulsozialarbeit, and integration assistance. Closest comparable in service-mix breadth to SoFa.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Protestant-affiliated welfare federation providing the full spectrum of SGB VIII/SGB IX services including family assistance, youth housing, school social work and integration assistance. Operates as an umbrella for regional member organizations including those in Lower Saxony.
• Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO) Bundesverband: Germany's largest freie Träger of welfare services, operating across SGB VIII youth welfare, integration assistance, school social work, and open youth work nationwide. Directly comparable service portfolio to SoFa but at vastly larger scale with federal political affiliation.
• Deutsches Rotes Kreuz (DRK): National Red Cross society operating youth welfare, family support, and integration assistance services across Germany. Operates as freier Träger with regional chapters overlapping SoFa's Lower Saxony/Bremen service area.

Direct peers

• Der Paritätische Gesamtverband: Umbrella organization for independent non-profit welfare providers in Germany, including many freie Träger delivering SGB VIII family and youth services. Closely comparable in governance and association-based structure to SoFa e.V.
• Lebenshilfe: Non-profit association providing services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including §78 SGB IX integration assistance, family support, and residential programs. Closely comparable to SoFa's Wiedereingliederungshilfen vertical.
• Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund (ASB): Nationwide aid organization delivering youth welfare, school social work, and integration services as a freier Träger. Operates regional chapters including in Lower Saxony with directly comparable service lines to SoFa.
• Malteser Hilfsdienst: Catholic aid organization providing youth and family welfare services as a freier Träger including Hilfen zur Erziehung and integration assistance. Comparable service model and statutory funding approach under SGB VIII/SGB IX.
• SOS Kinderdörfer: Non-profit operating residential and ambulatory youth welfare services including family assistance, supervised housing, and child protection programs. Comparable in mission and statutory funding model under SGB VIII.
• Kinderschutzbund (Deutscher Kinderschutzbund): National association dedicated to child protection and family support, operating local chapters that deliver Hilfen zur Erziehung, family counseling, and child protection services under SGB VIII. Directly comparable in non-profit freier Träger model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/achim_was_los
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sofa-e.v.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Sofa E.V.