Wanderregion Familie

Lennestadt

Family Municipality 2025: Continuous commitment to family friendliness

Text last updated: 2025-11-03

For the preservation of equal living conditions in all 43 districts

Lennestadt, with around 25,000 inhabitants, is located in the middle of the Sauerland Rothaargebirge Nature Park and is the most populous municipality in the district of Olpe with 43 villages. While the region used to be characterized primarily by mining and the metalworking industry, outdoor tourism has also become increasingly important in Lennestadt. Since September 2023, the town - as one of around 20 municipalities throughout Germany - has been able to permanently call itself a "family-friendly municipality".

Family as a cross-sectional task in the administration

Karte Sieger Lennestadt

Lennestadt has been certified as a family-friendly municipality for over ten years, making it one of the leading municipalities in the promotion of family justice. The town's commitment is also demonstrated by the fact that the topic of "family friendliness" is anchored in the administration as a cross-sectional task and is coordinated by a steering group.

In addition to many other initiatives and offers, citizens can contribute ideas at regular workshops. In one of these workshops, for example, the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and risks in relation to loneliness in Lennestadt were analyzed and suggestions for measures to combat loneliness were developed.

Lennestadt shows how family policy measures can be implemented. The town thinks strategically, networks stakeholders and develops measures that have a long-term effect.Family friendliness strengthens social cohesion and is a key location factor.

State prize for family-friendly communities 2025

The many years of participation in the certificate testify to the municipality's ongoing commitment to family friendliness. Together with the understanding of family friendliness as a cross-departmental, interdisciplinary task, Lennestadt convinced the jury. Lennestadt was awarded the Landespreis für familienfreundliche Kommunen 2025 in the category "Overall family policy project".

We present some of the town's offers here. Further information, links to the project descriptions and to the North Rhine-Westphalia state prize can be found in the sidebar.

Family-friendly offers in Lennestadt

  1. "Together instead of alone" - intergenerational encounters

    The "Together instead of lonely" event series brings families, single parents, senior citizens and newcomers together - e.g. at games afternoons, craft activities or shared meals. It promotes neighbourly togetherness and helps families without a large social network in particular to make connections in the community.

  2. Wide range of childcare services including vacation programs

    Lennestadt offers an extensive network of daycare facilities with flexible childcare times - tailored to the needs of working parents. In addition, the municipal vacation program ("Ferienspaß") relieves many families by offering children a variety of activities during the school vacations - affordable and close to home.

  3. TalVITAL in Saalhausen - leisure, exercise & encounters for families

    With a natural exercise park, water playground and plenty of space to play and linger, TalVITAL is an ideal meeting place for families. With no entrance fee and low-threshold offers, the park creates space for joint activities, recreation and encounters between generations.

  4. Diverse voluntary commitment

    Around 200 associations, committed neighborhoods, village communities and many individuals shape life in Lennestadt. With great commitment and passion, they organize leisure activities, support those in need and thus strengthen the community. The volunteer exchange EiL - Ehrenamt in Lennestadt networks and supports this valuable commitment.

The other award-winning municipalities in 2025

The cities of Siegen, Vreden and Nettersheim were also recognized either for their overall family policy concept or for an innovative individual project.

  • Siegen

    Family community 2025: Welcome to the family office

  • Vreden

    Family community 2025: Shaping modern youth work

  • Nettersheim

    Family community 2025: focus on sustainability - also in the social sector

Further information Offers for families in Lennestadt

Together instead of alone - flyer (2nd half of 2025)
Wide range of childcare services including vacation programs
TalVITAL in Saalhausen
EiL - Volunteering in Lennestadt

Weitere Informationen Video der Gewinner-Kommune Lennestadt

YouTube

Das Video aus Lennestadt zeigt eindrucksvoll das familienfreundliche Engagement vor Ort.

youtube

Further information Links to read more

"Families.Community.Cohesion": This was the motto of the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Family Affairs' "Family Community" award in 2025. Local authorities were invited to apply for the award with their overall family policy concept or an innovative individual project.

State prize for family-friendly communities 2025