Major cities in North Rhine-Westphalia

Bochum is home to just over 370,000 inhabitants, around a third of whom are immigrants. Around 15 percent of the city's population is under 18 years old, while 22 percent is over 65.

Family-friendly services

Bochum offers its families low-threshold access to services and advice by establishing family centers at daycare centers and gradually also at primary schools. In addition, the project "Flexible Kita im Stadtbezirk" offers childcare during off-peak hours and on Saturdays, which should benefit working and single parents in particular.

The "Swim with us!" project aims to reduce the number of non-swimmers among children. The "Vital.Digital.Bochumer Senior*innenportal" is currently being set up for older Bochum residents. The portal is intended to bundle offers for this age group.

Bottrop has a population of around 118,000, 16% of whom are under 18 years old and just over 23% over 65.

Family-friendly offers

The focus on family-friendly development is part of the overall municipal development and is anchored in mission statements.

In the "Early Help" network with the associated portal for searching for services, parents-to-be, parents with children up to the age of three and professionals can find information.

The numerous family locations, district offices and intercultural district centers offer a wide range of services for families on site. These include family cafés, language training, a vacation program for children and work with senior citizens.

Just over 650,000 people live in the state capital Düsseldorf. Around 16 percent of them are children and young people, while 18.7 percent are over 65 years old. Almost half of Düsseldorf's population has an immigrant background.

Family-friendly services

A multicultural team of district mothers accompanies and supports immigrant families locally in the form of outreach work and establishes the connection to services. Similarly, baby mentors are active in the area of early help for migrant families.

The city of Düsseldorf offers a broad and diverse range of services with contact points and educational and advisory services, as well as the specialist office for rainbow families. For single-parent families, the project "Alleine erziehen - gemeinsam aktiv" is offered, which enables exchange, getting to know each other and discussions with specialists as part of breakfast meetings and weekend trips.

The city of Herne, with around 162,000 inhabitants, is part of the Ruhr metropolis. Around 18 percent of the population is under the age of 18. In contrast, around 22 percent are 65 or older.

Family-friendly offers

The city's numerous family offices are central to family-friendly design and development. Several times a month, for example, an intergenerational family breakfast is organized in various parts of the city, where family-related offers are presented by cooperation partners.

The media kit "Diversity has many faces" enables professionals in childcare facilities to teach diversity in an age-appropriate way.

Located close to the border triangle between North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse and Rhineland-Palatinate, around 105,000 people currently live in Siegen. 17.3 percent of residents are under 18 years old, while 20 percent are over 65 years old.

Family-friendly offers

Young people can get politically involved in the Youth Parliament and Siegen sets an example for tolerance with the International Week against Racism.

A pilot service exists in some pediatric and adolescent medical practices, which establishes a connection to appropriate child and youth welfare services if required.

The Field of Experience "Schön und Gut" focuses on identifying one's own strengths and making different professions tangible. On the site of a former shooting range, unemployed teenagers and young adults can gain experience under professional guidance in a social, craft and artistic project.