Apply now for the Heimat-Preis NRW 2023

In 2019, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia has launched the funding programme on the theme of "Heimat. Future. North Rhine-Westphalia. We promote what connects people". This includes the "Heimat-Preis", which is endowed with 5,000 euros and in which the city of Bocholt is participating. Associations and initiatives in Bocholt can apply to the city of Bocholt for the prize for 2023 from now until 31 October of this year.

The application form for the competition can be downloaded from the website www.wir-fuer-bocholt.de/heimatpreis. If you have any questions, please contact the volunteer coordinator Rainer Howestädt at the volunteer agency of the city of Bocholt on 02871 953-2346.

Prizes for local and regional specialities

The aim of the programme is to get people excited about local and regional features, to preserve homeland and at the same time to shape it for the future. The Homeland Award therefore mainly honours voluntary commitment and innovative projects in the field of homeland that are worthy of imitation. True to the motto "Homeland grows from below!", the state would like to honour the local commitment of volunteers.

Projects from the past, present and future

All associations and initiatives in Bocholt can apply for this award. In the application form, they may not only describe the projects they have already completed, but also those they are still working on. Future ideas can also be entered. The award also recognises how the associations work together with third parties and how important the measure, action or project is for the city of Bocholt. How innovative they are and what the association wants to achieve with them in the future will also be assessed.

Associations that have already won the Heimatpreis in the past are excluded from applying. This also applies to those clubs that have already won the "Heimatpreis des Landes NRW" or the "Heimatpreis des Kreises Borken". The background to this is that as many clubs in Bocholt as possible should benefit from this state initiative, which will run for a total of 4 years.

Jury decides on Heimat-Preis 2023

A jury will decide on the entries. The jury consists of representatives of the Department of Culture and Education and the Department of Social Affairs of the City of Bocholt as well as one member each of a parliamentary group in the City Council and one advisory member each of the Volksbank Bocholt eG and the Volunteer Agency. The awarding of the Homeland Prize 2023 is to take place by the end of the year on the premises of Volksbank eG.

Application procedure

Applications can be submitted by post or by e-mail until 31 October 2023 (the postmark or e-mail receipt counts) to the Department of Social Affairs - Volunteer Agency -, 46395 Bocholt, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Str. 52-58 or e-mail rainer.howestaedt(at)bocholt(dot)de.

Previous winners

• 2019: Dorfgemeinschaft Mussum e.V. (Homeland Award of the City of Bocholt)
• 2019: Heimatverein Suderwick and the citizens' initiative "Dinxperwick" (Heimatpreis of the State of NRW)
• 2020: Pro Barlo e.V. (Homeland Award of the District of Borken)
• 2020: Bürgerverein Biemenhorst e.V. (local history award of the city of Bocholt)
• 2021 Förderkreis Bocholter Handwerksmuseum e.V. (Local History Award of the City of Bocholt)
• 2021 Berufskolleg am Wasserturm with the project "Make a Difference" (Homeland Award of the District of Borken)
• 2022: Dochdu Kult & Ko e.V.

Information on the web portal of the state of NRW at hwww.mhkbd.nrw/themenportal/landes-heimat-preis .