All the News at a Glance

Do you have a question about benefits, counseling services, or another family-related topic? Our new AI chatbot is available 24/7 to help you quickly find the information you need. Learn how the chatbot works and how your data is protected.

Many municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia offer a Family Pass that entitles families to discounts on recreational activities, for example. To find out if your municipality offers a Family Pass, visit our information page: Simply enter your city or ZIP code in the "How to Apply" section.

Summer vacation is coming to an end, and school is starting again for nearly 2.5 million students in North Rhine-Westphalia. It will be especially exciting for about 170,000 first-graders, who are experiencing their first day of school these days. Education Minister Dorothee Feller sends them her best wishes as they start school.

There are many great ideas for building a strong sense of community—sometimes all that’s missing is the financial support to bring them to life. The new “Bingo! Volunteer Foundation NRW” provides grants of up to 5,000 euros to support volunteer projects run by nonprofit organizations. Applications can be submitted starting September 1, 2026.