Promotion of volunteering: Bocholt City Council's Heimatpreis 2024 presented to "Makerspace Bocholt"

The City of Bocholt's Heimatpreis 2024, which comes with prize money of 5,000 euros, goes to Makerspace Bocholt. Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff presented the award to Joris Bijkerk, initiator and managing director of the do-it-yourself workshop, whose aim is to awaken the desire for handicrafts and practical activities from an early age. The award ceremony took place on the premises of the Makerspace (Westend 31).

"Makerspace awakens the joy of experimentation and the desire for craftsmanship"

An eight-member jury made up of representatives from the city of Bocholt and the Bocholt council factions had previously decided in favour of awarding the prize to Makerspace Bocholt. The prize recognises the concept of the Makerspace, which harmonises tradition and innovation. The citation states: "Makerspace Bocholt has committed itself to the tradition of the industrial city of Bocholt with a sustainable concept of collaborative craftsmanship. It looks both to Bocholt's past as a centre of the textile industry and to the city's present as a centre of electrical engineering. With a view to the future, new ideas and innovations are stimulated among the participants." The Do-It-Yourself workshop awakens "the joy of experimentation and the desire for handicrafts in children from the age of 3. As a cross-generational place of exchange, it also counteracts the steadily increasing tendency towards loneliness."

As the "th place", the Makerspace stands for traditional craftsmanship in Bocholt, but also "for the Westmünsterland region: A region of hands-on work", says Mayor Thomas Kerkhoff. "We are incredibly happy! We will use the money to make further purchases and expand our offerings - as a place for technology and social encounters", announced Joris Bijkerk. Detailed information about the makerspace can be found at https://makerspace-bocholt.de.

Twelve applications

This year, a total of twelve organisations and projects applied for the Bocholt Homeland Prize, which is supported by the state of NRW. "The applications all received a lot of approval from the jury", reports Rainer Howestädt, head of the volunteer agency, advisory member and host of the jury meeting. "Because every project had a positive impact either for the residents of Bocholt or for the city society in general. In the end, the jury's decision was made by a clear majority after a lengthy discussion."

Background to the Heimatpreis

The Heimatpreis is a funding project of the Ministry of Homeland, Municipal Affairs, Building and Equality of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. The prize has been awarded since 2019. The aim is to inspire people for local and regional specialities, to preserve the homeland and at the same time to shape it for the future. The NRW Homeland Prize primarily honours voluntary commitment and innovative, exemplary projects in the area of homeland. Bocholt has successfully applied for this funding for the sixth time.

Previous winners from Bocholt

• 2019 Dorfgemeinschaft Mussum e.V. (Homeland Prize of the City of Bocholt)
• 2019 Heimatverein Suderwick e.V. and the citizens' initiative Dinxperwick (Heimatpreis of the state of NRW)
• 2020 Pro Barlo e.V. (Homeland Prize of the Borken district)
• 2020 Bürgerverein Biemenhorst e.V. (local history prize of the city of Bocholt)
• 2021 Förderkreis Bocholter Handwerksmuseum e.V. (local history prize of the city of Bocholt)
• 2022 Dochdu Kult & Ko. e.V. (local history prize of the city of Bocholt)
• 2023 Jugendfarm Mit Dir e.V. (local history prize of the city of Bocholt)
• 2024 Makerspace Bocholt (Home Prize of the City of Bocholt)