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Hesse Volunteer Card (E-Card)

  • Service description

    Civic engagement is of central importance to the cohesion of our society. Without the participation of its citizens, the state would not be able to address the social challenges of the present and the future.
    Many people in Hesse volunteer, and the opportunities and areas of involvement are as diverse as people’s interests and skills: Whether in sports, youth or senior programs, with the fire department, in volunteer social services, in church congregations, in choirs or art associations, or in environmental or animal welfare initiatives: Volunteer and charitable work by like-minded people is both vital and irreplaceable for our common good.
    That deserves recognition! That is
    why the Hessian state government, together with the counties as well as the independent cities and cities with special status, has introduced the Volunteer Card as a token of thanks and appreciation for all those who make a special commitment to society.

    Holders of the Volunteer Card can take advantage of a wide range of attractive benefits throughout Hesse. These include top-tier sports and cultural events, as well as movie theaters, museums, adult education courses, swimming pools, and other recreational facilities. In addition to ongoing discounts, attractive special promotions, sweepstakes, and free tickets are offered on a regular basis.

  • Prerequisites

    • more than 5 hours of volunteer work per week
    • Work performed on a purely volunteer basis, without compensation (e.g., without a lump-sum expense allowance; reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses, such as travel costs, is permissible.)
    • Multiple volunteer activities can be combined
    • If you do not reside in Hesse but perform volunteer work there, the appropriate regional contact person can issue you a Volunteer Card.
    • Many counties and cities have established their own supplementary criteria for awarding grants.
  • What fees apply?

    Of course, the Volunteer Card is free of charge.

  • What deadlines do I have to observe?

    The Volunteer Card has a limited validity period. Depending on the issuing county or city, its validity ranges from 2 to 3 years. After that, you can, of course, apply for a new Volunteer Card.

  • Processing time

    Varying Durations in Cities and Counties

  • What else should I know?

    • The Volunteer Card is valid throughout Hesse. You can use it to take advantage of all the discounts offered anywhere in Hesse. If you’re visiting another city in Hesse as a Volunteer Card holder, be sure to look for stickers at the cash registers of establishments and stores. The range of benefits is constantly expanding. You can find the most up-to-date information on the Ehrenamts-Card Hessen website under the “Benefits” menu item.
    • Special promotions for holders of the Volunteer Card are organized at regular intervals. There are often free tickets to be won for special events. You can also sign up to receive email notifications about these promotions, which are usually announced on very short notice.

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