Suche
Mein Konto
AWO Wedel: 100 children affected – city and provider in dispute!
In Wedel, Pinneberg district, AWO supporters are demonstrating against insolvency and disputes with the city over daycare centers and finances.
AWO Wedel: 100 children affected – city and provider in dispute!
In Wedel, in the Pinneberg district, things are boiling enormously. Around 100 children are under the shadow of the insolvency of the AWO local association Wedel e.V. The respected daycare provider, which runs four daycare centers in the city, filed for bankruptcy on July 21, 2025. The AWO attributes the reasons for this to the cancellation of municipal funding, which the city of Wedel vigorously rejects. This is the start of a serious dispute between the AWO and the city, which is now culminating in a demonstration scheduled for Monday on the town hall square NDR reports.
The city has taken a position against the AWO's allegations. According to the city administration, irregularities were discovered at the AWO, which made a critical review of the billing necessary. There is a claim of over one million euros, which suggests that the AWO has overpaid some of its employees. “A change of provider is not necessary for reasons of savings, but rather due to financial irregularities,” explains the city, underlining its position that the care of the more than 300 children must not be jeopardized.
The argument escalates
The AWO claims that the city deliberately caused the bankruptcy in order to find a cheaper provider for the daycare centers. In a letter to the city, the AWO demands clarification of the financial differences that have existed since January 2025, after initial inquiries about the audit of the 2023 annual financial statements were made in November 2024. To date, the AWO has not submitted any verifiable documents, which the city cites as further evidence of the daycare centers' lack of economic stability. The topic of an orderly transfer of ownership had already been raised in discussions, but the AWO rejected this suggestion.
The situation is further complicated by the general situation of independent daycare providers in North Rhine-Westphalia. As Outlaw reports, many providers are on the verge of going out of business because they have to pay their employees according to collective agreements, while support from state funds is not sufficient. A daycare alliance is therefore calling for fairer financing models and warning of a financial situation that threatens the existence of numerous daycare centers, which operate 75% of the facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia.
A look into the future
The city of Wedel is optimistic that new sponsors can be found for the four daycare centers. Discussions with potential new providers should be held promptly to ensure the quality of care for the 316 children affected. There is a direct contact person in the city administration for parents: Eike Binge, who can be reached on 04103-707280 or by email at e.binge@stadt.wedel.de.
The AWO's protest will certainly raise an issue that doesn't just concern Wedel. The general conditions and the digital and financial resources of daycare providers are issues that concern many cities and districts. It remains to be seen how the situation in Wedel will develop and whether Monday's demonstration can set an example for the ongoing problems with day care in the region.