Located in the heart of the Ruhr region, Bochum combines its experience with structural change with a commitment to providing families with good prospects and fair opportunities for participation. For the city’s approximately 375,000 residents, family-friendly support is designed to be accessible close to home and integrated into families’ daily lives.
Through BO:StarQ (Bochum: Opportunities for a Fresh Start in the Neighborhood), Bochum supports families living in poverty and those at risk of poverty. The project brings counseling, support, and opportunities for social interaction directly to selected neighborhoods. In this way, it reaches families where they live. This outreach approach, combined with multilingual and culturally sensitive services, takes into account the diverse life situations of the families.
The jury particularly commended the consistent neighborhood-based approach and the low-threshold support provided to families. The collaboration between the city administration, the Job Center, the Employment Agency, and independent organizations is particularly impressive. This approach integrates social planning with labor market strategy, facilitates access to support services, and addresses gaps in service provision. Through the StarQMach-Mobil and the Family Workshop, BO:StarQ combines outreach counseling, community participation, and the structural development of support systems. For this approach, Bochum was awarded the State Prize for Family-Friendly Municipalities 2026 in the category “Individual Family Policy Project.”
BO:StarQ: Support Right Where Families Live
BO:StarQ operates directly within families’ communities. In the neighborhoods of Querenburg, Kruppwerke, Wattenscheid-Mitte, and Harpen/Rosenberg, the so-called StarQMakers provide families with support close to home, in multiple languages, and in a culturally sensitive manner. They provide support with everyday family issues, strengthen existing resources, and, when needed, connect families to educational, counseling, and support services. The connection to already established neighborhood institutions facilitates access and builds trust.
A key component is the StarQMach-Mobil. The converted construction trailer comes directly into the neighborhoods and, as a mobile meeting and counseling space, provides low-threshold access: Families can easily make connections, obtain information, and learn about various services.
The mobile service is complemented by the Family Workshop. In open workshops, families can share their experiences and ideas, thereby actively helping to shape the further development of the project and Bochum’s support structures.
The cities of Detmold, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, and Krefeld, as well as the Ennepe-Ruhr district, were also recognized either for their comprehensive family policy plans or for an innovative individual project.
