The Arbeiterwohlfahrt Kreisverband Bielefeld e.V. (AWO Bielefeld) has applied to the Bielefeld Local Court to initiate insolvency proceedings under self-administration. By order dated 27 July 2026, the Local Court appointed Dr Mike Westkamp, a partner at GÖRG, as provisional insolvency administrator. During the self-administration proceedings, the district association will be supported by solicitor Daniel Meintz (DM Law Firm) acting as general representative. All facilities, services and social programmes provided by AWO Bielefeld will continue without restriction throughout the proceedings.
Provisional self-administration has also been ordered for the wholly-owned subsidiary AWO Bielefeld Soziale Dienstleistungen gGmbH. The aim is to place the district association on a sustainable financial footing.
With around 800 employees, AWO Bielefeld is one of the largest providers of social services in the region. Its services include, amongst other things, childcare centres, all-day care programmes at 25 primary schools in Bielefeld, senior citizens’ centres and neighbourhood centres, as well as a wide range of counselling and support services for children, families and older people. The insolvency proceedings were triggered in particular by increased staff and operating costs, as well as delays in refinancing from funding bodies. As part of the self-administration process, ts business structures will be reviewed and adapted to the changed operating environment..
“Self-administration creates the conditions needed to stabilise the district association on a sustainable financial footing. The aim is to preserve as many jobs as possible and to secure the vital social services for people in and around Bielefeld in the long term,” says Dr Westkamp.
Employees' wages and salaries are secured through German insolvency benefits for the period from July to September 2026.
Advisers to the AWO Bielefeld District Association
GÖRG Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB / GÖRG Insolvenzverwaltung Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten mbB / GÖRG Rechtsanwälte/Insolvenzverwalter GbR
Dr Mike Westkamp (Insolvency Administrator, Partner, Insolvency Law, Cologne)
