The results of a survey called the ZiviZ-Survey from 2023 confirm that Saarland still has the highest club density in Germany. The study also highlights the challenges that clubs increasingly face and have to deal with.
The volunteer structures are changing, with a trend towards time-limited engagement. In view of demographics, employment, and school hours/afternoon care, (family) structures have changed. The challenge often lies in recruiting new members for board positions, which are associated with legal aspects such as financial liability or accounting knowledge. It is also difficult to inspire volunteers for long-term commitment in sports clubs, emergency and aid organizations, churches, and larger institutions. “We try to support volunteers in their board activities through informational events. At our conference ‘Forum: Future of the Club,’ we were able to cover several topics such as recruiting new members and tips for public relations. However, we also depend on the assistance and feedback from volunteers on how we can best support them,” emphasizes Alexandra Christmann. Digitalization is also an issue that causes difficulties for clubs. Who can design a website and who maintains it? What tools are available, and where and how can things be promoted? “To answer questions like these, we need to network well and create synergies,” says Alexandra Christmann.
"Volunteering undeniably holds a high value. Just recently, the awarding of the honorary distinction 'Flood Relief Saarland 2024' also took place for the helpers in the Saarpfalz district, which serves as evidence of this. Our society would not function without volunteering in all its facets," says District Administrator Dr. Theophil Gallo. However, that is only one side of the coin. "The other side is not quite as rosy and compels us to take action if we want to maintain urgently needed structures, especially in the area of fire brigades and aid organizations – which we simply need to survive. There is an increasing shortage of people who, on the one hand, can be reliably called upon or engage themselves in this way, but on the other hand can also receive relief when a situation to be managed lasts for a long time. At times, even sporadic, well-intentioned efforts by individuals are no longer sufficient. The number of volunteers is shrinking, yet the demand for help in all life situations in our society is growing. If we assume that critical situations will increase or last longer, we need more organized and trained people who can also handle technology and equipment and are trained for it. We need more people capable of acting as first responders when no emergency doctor or paramedic is nearby. It saddens me to see that more and more people rely on the assistance of volunteers but hold back personally from much or all of it. And then there are those who believe they have to hinder or even physically attack helpers. That is simply antisocial. This development began insidiously long ago, and the resulting deficit will hit us hard sooner or later if we do not counteract it early, now – all together and each individually."
District Administrator Dr. Gallo thanks all volunteers working for the Saarpfalz district: the experts in the field of fraud prevention, the senior safety advisors, the ladies and gentlemen of the senior visiting service, and all volunteers who contribute to the Christmas Eve celebration "Christmas Eve in the Saarpfalz district".
Everyone who wants to volunteer is warmly welcome. Commitment is diverse, and there is always something to be found nearby.
The contact person is the head of the senior citizens' office and the volunteer exchange of the Saarpfalz district, Alexandra Christmann, phone (06841) 104 8405, email: alexandra.christmann@saarpfalz-kreis.de.
