Preuswald neighborhood management

events

The neighborhood

Preuswald is a special district, and not just because of its scenic location. Based on the results of the City of Aachen's social development plan from 2007 and its update up to 2009, the district also has many faces in terms of its social characteristics.

On the one hand, a large number of people live here, which characterizes Preuswald as a district with particular challenges. Compared to the city as a whole, these include an above-average number of unemployed people, families who have to live on social benefits, a high level of child poverty, children who need extra support at school and families who receive educational assistance.

On the other hand, a very affluent population lives here. This applies in particular to the residents of the bungalows and detached houses on the periphery of the estate. Some of them came to Preuswald when the estate was founded in the 1970s and feel closely connected to the neighborhood and its development.

Another special feature concerns the demographic composition of the population: on the one hand, Preuswald is a district with an above-average number of children under the age of 14. On the other hand, the proportion of older people is very high. Overall, this results in a wide range between young and old. Preuswald is also one of the few districts in the city where immigration has outpaced emigration in recent years, meaning that its population is rising slightly.

After all, the district is characterized by a high level of voluntary commitment. A particularly large number of women who have a volunteer pass live here. And among 20 to 29-year-old foreign citizens, the number of registrations for "German for foreigners" courses is the highest of all Aachen districts.

If you take all these facts together, it becomes clear that there is a great need for action in Preuswald. However, it is also clear that good framework conditions are in place to make a difference in the district.

In urban development and social development planning, there are two instruments in particular that can be used for this purpose:

• the establishment of a district conference and
• the establishment of a district office

Neighborhood conferences are an association of institutions and citizen representatives in the neighborhood, both professional and voluntary. The most important tasks include exchanging information and analyzing the social situation. It is important not only to see the problems, but also to recognize the diverse resources and to examine the extent to which they can be used for the well-being of the neighbourhood. On this basis, ideas can then be developed and ways and cooperation partners can be found to jointly strengthen the strengths and counteract the weaknesses.

Preuswald district conference

The Preuswald district conference was founded on July 8, 2010 and had met ten times by August 2012. Important topics were the housing situation, the intensification of youth work, education and leisure, the integration of migrants and the possibility of organizing a general consultation in the district. Overall, the aim is also to improve the image of the neighborhood.

In this context, the district conference established three working groups: the district office working group (July 16, 2010), the children and youth working group (January 11, 2011) and the migration working group (February 28, 2012).

District office working group

The first goal of the district office working group was to set up a district office for Preuswald. This should be the core of social work in the district and serve as a location for district management. In addition to space for meetings, training and information, the person as contact person and advisor is of decisive importance here. In this respect, the district office differs from the district conference, which tends to carry out institutional work.

Due to the provision of infrastructure and staff, district offices are much more cost-intensive than district conferences. Particularly in times of tight budgets, creative ideas are therefore required as to how maximum performance can be achieved with a minimum of additional resources. In particular, existing resources should be used.

A particularly interesting approach is currently being pursued in Preuswald. The district office there, which opened on September 16, 2011, operates as a shared office. Its opening hours are ensured by bundling the advisory activities of various institutions.

The construction of the office is also a good example of the fruitful cooperation between various stakeholders: the premises are owned by Deutsche Annington, which InVia (the Caritas association) has rented. The city of Aachen financed the actual construction and is now a subtenant of InVia. Various sponsors were also involved, providing PCs (including for an Internet café), children's toys and children's furniture.

Diaconia

The open consultation hour in Preuswald is offered by the Diakonisches Werk im Kirchenkreis Aachen e.V - Familien- und Sozialberatung West. Counseling is free of charge and independent of denomination or nationality. If required, home visits can also be made or appointments can be made outside of consultation hours.

Families, single parents, people living alone and couples can find support for the following issues within the General Social Service:

• Family counseling
• Partnership problems
• Educational problems
• School problems
• Separation and divorce
• Custody and contact arrangements
• Participation in proceedings before the guardianship and family courts
• Questions about basic income support, unemployment benefit II, housing benefit, child benefit
• Stabilization of personal and economic circumstances
• Overcoming social emergencies
• Help with housing problems
• Advice and initiation of assistance for senior citizens
• Advice and initiation of help in the event of illness, physical or psychological distress
• Mother/father/child cure advice/initial information
• Debtor and insolvency counseling/initial information

In addition, Diakonie's General Social Service (ASD) is the point of contact for all conceivable concerns and the staff can refer you to specialist agencies accordingly.

Flyer Diakonie Family and Social Counseling West

Diaconia