Association of Single Mothers and Fathers North Rhine-Westphalia (VAMV NRW)

Around 500,000 single mothers and fathers live in North Rhine-Westphalia. For many of them, living alone with a child poses particular challenges, especially in terms of financial security and balancing work and family life. The Verband allein erziehender Mütter und Väter Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V. (VAMV NRW) represents the interests of single parents and stands up for their concerns and rights. It is the point of contact in the state for questions about living alone with a child or children.

The Familienportal.NRW asked VAMV NRW to briefly introduce its work, goals and commitment.

For the VAMV, "single parent" means bearing the main responsibility for a child in the household. This includes both the responsibility for unpaid care work in everyday life and often the sole responsibility for the family's financial security.

This type of family can be very diverse: Being a single parent can mean being entirely responsible for children, receiving less or also a lot of support from the other parent or other people.

We are the online contact point in NRW for questions about separation and living alone with a child. Our help finder connects single parents and parents in separation to suitable services and advice centers on site. On our Instagram channel @vamvnrw and at events, we offer information, tips and an exchange of ideas within the community. We are a membership association: single parents have the opportunity to become active (e.g. in press work, studies or campaigns).

You can get involved with VAMV NRW without being a member. We regularly share calls for participation in press inquiries, studies or campaigns. This allows single parents to get involved in political and social events and represent their interests themselves. As a member, you can have a say in which topics we work on and, above all, which demands we use to shape our lobbying work.