Volunteer coordination in the city districts and city-wide
In July 2017, the Cologne City Council decided how refugees should be accommodated.
These so-called „minimum standards“ consist of various measures and have been extended every two years. Most recently in the Council on December 12, 2024 until the end of 2026.
The measures ensure that volunteers can work better with refugees. For example, there are enough staff in certain large accommodations. Each citizens' office also has a half-time position to support volunteers. Associations in the city districts have also been given a half-time position for this task. In total, there are 13 half-time positions at associations. This means that city-wide services for volunteers can also be offered.
The city also gives money for the maintenance of a website (Willkommenskultur Köln), which contains a lot of information for volunteers. Welcome initiatives and associations can also apply for money from the administration to pay freelancers or mini-jobbers. These in turn help the association to carry out certain administrative tasks.
Flyer Support for volunteer refugee work in Cologne
Contact overview minimum standard offices
Council resolution on minimum standards for refugee accommodation for the accommodation of refugees
Welcoming culture in Cologne
In Cologne, over 100 different associations and initiatives support refugees.
The short film “Living well together - welcoming culture in Cologne”, commissioned by the Cologne Volunteer Agency with the kind support of the Municipal Integration Center, provides insights into Cologne's welcoming culture.
Would you like to become part of the welcoming culture? In addition to the volunteer coordinators in the districts, the team at the Forum for Welcome Culture also provides helpful information and tips on how to get started volunteering with refugees in Cologne:
Starting volunteer work with refugees in Cologne - Kölner Freiwilligen Agentur
Personal Book
The Personal Book helps you organize important documents in a clear and orderly manner and maintain a good overview of key topics, such as personal information, immigration status, housing, benefits, health, educational history, and counseling.
For example, volunteers can provide more structured support to refugees during appointments and when dealing with government agencies, and can identify missing documents more quickly.
Personnel Book as a PDF Download