Press releases

• Unbureaucratic and rapid financial support is provided via the schools.
• The two funds ensure greater educational equality in Aachen and the region.
• The funds flow year after year and are available to families in need.

"It is really sad and frightening to see the family emergencies we encounter and our help is very important," says Stephan Mohne, 2nd Chairman of the "Nele und Hanns Bittmann e. V., Hilfsfonds für Kinder in Not" association. This is why the association set up a school book fund and later a school sports fund many years ago and has provided both with generous financial resources every year since then. The two funds step in to help families in need with the purchase of school books, sports equipment for PE lessons or sports clubs. The Aachen School Book and School Sports Funds have been ensuring greater educational equality and participation opportunities for children and young people for many years.

The necessity of the textbook fund
Every school year, new learning materials have to be purchased, with families in North Rhine-Westphalia having to pay up to a third of the costs themselves. The maximum amounts for this personal contribution are currently around 48 euros for the primary level, 102 euros for the lower secondary level and 93 euros for the upper secondary level. However, not all families can afford these amounts or are legally entitled to a subsidy. This is where the financial support from the Textbook Fund, which is administered by the City of Aachen, comes in. "The big issue is educational equality in our city," says Heinrich Brötz, Alderman for Education, Youth and Culture. "With the 'Nele und Hanns Bittmann e. V.' association, we have had a good partner at our side for a long time. I would also just like to say thank you," he says about the cooperation with the association, which always steps in when legal entitlements do not apply. The aid is provided to the recipients completely unbureaucratically and without complicated application processes. The schools inform the city's Youth and Schools Department of the number of families who need the funds. The schools then receive the funds, which they pass on to the families. Brötz: "The school principals submit the application. And that's a good thing, because they know their families best."

"Child poverty is always an issue in our department. It is therefore very valuable to be able to get help so quickly," explains Tobias Grundmann, Head of the Youth and Schools department. Albrecht Peltzer: "It fits in perfectly with our intention to provide very direct help." However, not everyone knows about this quick route. "There are cases where various needs are not expressed, partly due to fear of bureaucracy. But the help from the Textbook and School Sports Fund is applied for completely unbureaucratically and anonymously," reports Stephan Mohne. At the same time, he emphasizes that the textbook fund is now actually a school fund that also helps with school trips, for example.

Money for sports clothing and shoes
However, some families find it difficult to raise the necessary money not only for school books, but also for the necessary sports equipment. This is why, in addition to the school book fund, there has also been a school sports fund for several years. It works in the same way. Parents contact the school management, who can then request the amount from the Sports Development, Sports Promotion and Operation of Sports Facilities department of the municipal sports division. "This really is a project close to my heart. We are always delighted when we can help families quickly and unbureaucratically and how grateful people are for this help," emphasizes Petra Prömpler, Head of the Sports Department. Among other things, funding is provided for sports clothing and sports shoes, initially for sports lessons at school, but also for clubs if there is a clear interest. In addition, course fees for temporary offers or vacation courses are also covered, and possibly beyond.

Financial support
The association has regularly contributed large sums of money to both funds for many years. This year, 10,000 euros for the school book fund and 5,000 euros for the school sports fund. The association has already donated 65,000 euros to the school book fund and 20,000 euros to the school sports fund. "We see ourselves as mediators and thank the donors who make it possible for us to help in the first place," emphasizes Chairman Peltzer.

In 2024, 246 children benefited from a total of 7,012.62 euros from the school book fund. In the same year, the school sports fund helped 52 children with around 4,400 euros.

The association passes on 100 percent of the donations. "Not a single euro is spent on administrative structures," confirms Stephan Mohne.

"Nele und Hanns Bittmann e.V., Hilfsfonds für Kinder in Not"
The death of parents Nele and Hanns Bittmann in a tragic traffic accident on April 24, 2006 caused deep grief and helplessness throughout the Aachen region. The fate of the family, especially the children, was the trigger to found this association to help children in emergency situations. The aim of the association is to provide children with one-off or repeated financial and/or non-material assistance.

A regular education for children in the Aachen region is very important to the association. The lack of financial means in families to purchase school books or sports equipment constitutes an emergency situation in the sense of the statutes. The city of Aachen and the association therefore counteract such emergencies by setting up the funds. "By hardship, we also mean not being able to participate in education, sport or cultural life," says Albrecht Peltzer.

Further information at: https://kinderinnotaachen.de/