Helping Hand 2025: 16 projects are fighting for the coveted prize!

Helping Hand 2025: 16 projects are fighting for the coveted prize!

The volunteer scene in Germany is looking forward to the upcoming award ceremony of the “Helping Hand” funding award in 2025. On December 1, 2025, the best projects in civil protection will be honored at the Federal Ministry of the Interior in Berlin. This year, the Federal Ministry of the Interior nominated 16 outstanding initiatives that won out of almost 400 applications. This award recognizes the diversity and innovative power of voluntary projects and this number alone shows how vibrant the commitment is in our country.

The funding award is awarded in three main categories: innovative concepts, youth work and support for volunteer work. New to this edition of the award is the special award for inclusion, which honors projects that promote participation for people with disabilities. An important step in breaking down barriers and strengthening togetherness.

Nominated projects at a glance

The list of nominated projects is colorful and promising. In the “Innovative Concepts” category, the Hattersheim am Main fire department, among others, made it with their campaign “Are you ready for an emergency?” and the DRK water rescue service Halle (Saale) e. V. made it to the final round with the development of remote-controlled underwater rescue vehicles. The TFA-TEAM Hamburg e. With its “Mayday Arena”, V. shows what realistic training looks like for respiratory protection wearers.

• Kategorie Innovative Konzepte:
  • Feuerwehr Hattersheim am Main: „Bist du bereit für den Notfall?“
  • TFA-TEAM Hamburg e. V.: „Mayday Arena“
  • DRK Wasserrettungsdienst Halle (Saale) e. V.: „Roboter als Retter und Helfer“

In the “young talent” category, the youth organizations’ projects seem to have a good hand. Among other things, the “Crisis Kids” project of the Neuss Youth Red Cross is being honored here, which teaches children about disaster prevention.

• Kategorie Nachwuchsarbeit:
  • Jugendrotkreuz Neuss: „Krisenkids – Kinder erklären Katastrophenschutz“
  • Malteser Erftstadt: „Jugendliche im Einsatzdienst“
  • BRK-Gemeinschaft & Freiwillige Feuerwehr Kissing: „Feuer & Flosse“

And support for voluntary work should not be neglected either. Projects such as the “emergency radio concept” from the DARC local association P49/FFW Laupheim stand out here, which creates an important contact point for citizens in crisis situations.

• Kategorie Unterstützung des Ehrenamtes:
  • DARC-Ortsverband P49/FFW Laupheim: „Notfunkkonzept“
  • FH Münster & DRK-Landesverband Westfalen-Lippe e. V.: „Studi-PUK“
  • Brandschutz-Center Münster Brinck GmbH: „Arbeitgeber bestehend aus Feuerwehr und BOS-Kräften“

Public voting and award ceremony

While the expert jury, consisting of nine members, evaluates the projects based on innovative strength, exemplary character and sustainability, citizens also have the opportunity to award an audience award. Those interested can vote online until the award ceremony on December 1, 2025.

The “Helping Hand” sponsorship award has been awarded annually since 2009 and is endowed with prize money of up to 9,000 euros. This award is not only an appreciation, but also a motivation for many who are involved in civil protection. Further information about the nominated projects and the voting can be found on the official website Presseportal reports and at Feuerwehrmagazin.