Stiftung Friedehorst Bremen

Stiftung Friedehorst is a diaconal foundation under church law based in Bremen-Lesum, Germany. Founded in 1947 on the site of a former Wehrmacht barracks, it was created through ecumenical cooperation between American and German welfare organisations, notably on the initiative of the Office of Military Government for Germany (U.S.) (OMGUS) and with the involvement of Eldon Ray Burke of the Church of the Brethren. The name Friedehorst was proposed by its first director, Bodo Heyne, to convey a message of peace and a 'horst' as a nest of shelter. Over more than 75 years, Friedehorst has developed a range of services that its own materials describe as unique in northern Germany. Its activities span outpatient and inpatient care, support and inclusion for people with disabilities, vocational rehabilitation and retraining, and the qualification of professionals in the social and healthcare sectors. These services are delivered through several subsidiary companies, including a Berufsförderungswerk (vocational promotion centre), Teilhabe Leben (participation and living), and Dienste für Senioren & Pflege (services for seniors and care). With around 1,350 to 1,400 employees, Stiftung Friedehorst is one of the largest employers in Bremen-Nord and the largest diaconal institution in the federal state of Bremen. It operates from a campus at Rotdornallee 64 in Bremen-Lesum, which includes the roughly 9-hectare Friedehorstpark within a total area of about 27.5 hectares. The foundation is led by a two-member board, one of whom must be an ordained pastor according to its statutes and serves as chairperson and spokesperson. Diakon Oliver Schardt is the current Vorsteher and spokesperson of the board. The organisation has evolved significantly since its founding. It began by admitting 50 people in late 1947 and expanded into elderly care, disability support and vocational rehabilitation. In 1956 it was the first institution in northern Germany to offer training courses in elderly care and for the special needs of young people with disabilities. A Berufsbildungswerk followed in 1957, and a Berufsförderungswerk for retraining was established in 1964. The Neurological Rehabilitation Centre (NRZ) for children, adolescents and young adults was added in 1985 and transferred to the Johanniter in 2020. In the 1980s and 1990s, traditional residential structures were transformed in favour of individual development and social integration, with residents moving into smaller domestic communities and external housing groups across Bremen. More recent developments include the Eldon-Burke-Quartier, an inclusive neighbourhood on the campus. As a recognised charitable provider of social institutions, Stiftung Friedehorst is an important part of the regional health and social economy. It is funded through its service operations, donations and church support, and remains a private, non-profit entity rather than a listed company.

Stiftung Friedehorst was founded on 19 September 1947 as 'Friedehorst – Vereinigte Anstalten der Inneren Mission in der Bremer Diakonie'. It was established on the site of a former Wehrmacht barracks in Bremen-Lesum, which had been used as Lesum Barracks by the US Army after World War II and converted into a general military hospital from December 1945 to April 1946. When the US Army abandoned the property, plans were made to demolish the buildings. However, the Medical Officer at OMGUS, Weinbrenner, tasked Eldon Ray Burke (1898–1993) of the Church of the Brethren, working as a civilian for CRALOG, with transferring the Lesum Barracks to the Verein für Innere Mission for charitable purposes. The association initially leased and later purchased the property. Thus, in 1947, through ecumenical cooperation between American and German welfare organisations, the Friedehorst institution was created. The name, proposed by first director Bodo Heyne, was intended to convey a message of peace and a 'horst' as a nest of shelter. The buildings were renovated and converted in the following years, and by the end of 1947, 50 people had already been admitted. The Diakonissenmutterhaus used a building for a tuberculosis ward and later as an orthopaedic clinic. The first Vorsteher of the institution was Pastor Heinrich Johannes Diehl, serving from 1948 to 1980. In 1956, Friedehorst was the first institution in northern Germany to offer training courses in elderly care and for the special needs of young people with disabilities. In 1957, a Berufsbildungswerk (vocational training centre) was established together with an apprentice home. A residential home, a therapeutic unit and a special school were set up. In 1962, the lease period ended with the purchase of the site, with the Bremische Evangelische Kirche donating half the cost. The site today (2016) covers around 27.5 hectares, including the Friedehorstpark (about 9 hectares). The founding of the independent association Friedehorst – Vereinigte Anstalten der Inneren Mission e. V. took place in 1962. In 1964, the training of people with physical disabilities was transferred to another institution, and Friedehorst established a Berufsförderungswerk for retraining measures. Workshops and a student boarding school were created. The apprentice home was converted into a residential home for adults with physical disabilities. There were now three areas: care for the elderly, support for people with disabilities, and vocational rehabilitation. In 1974, a new building for elderly care was constructed. The Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe recognised the house as a model project. Existing care stations had to be converted and refurnished. In 1985, the Neurological Rehabilitation Centre (NRZ) for children, adolescents and young adults was established as a fourth unit, and in 1997 the building for it was enlarged. In May 2005, a parents' house was built for the NRZ. Another new building for adult rehabilitation began operation in 2013. In 2020, the NRZ was transferred to the Johanniter. In the disability sector, traditional residential structures were changed in the 1980s and 1990s in favour of individual development and social integration. Residents now live in manageable, domestic communities and external housing groups in various Bremen districts. The therapeutic workshops were converted into day support centres. In 1996, the first apartment building for older people for service living was created. By 2005, two more buildings followed. An outpatient care service was offered. At the end of the 1990s, Friedehorst set up a neurological intensive care station for... [source text truncated]

• 2020

  NRZ transferred to the Johanniter.

• 2013

  New building for adult rehabilitation begins operation.

• 2005

  Parents' house built for the NRZ; two more service living buildings completed.

• 1997

  NRZ building enlarged.

• 1996

  First apartment building for service living for older people created.

• 1985

  Neurological Rehabilitation Centre (NRZ) for children, adolescents and young adults established as fourth unit.

• 1974

  New building for elderly care opened; recognised as a model project by Kuratorium Deutsche Altershilfe.

• 1964

  Establishment of a Berufsförderungswerk for retraining; three main areas: elderly care, disability support, vocational rehabilitation.

• 1962

  Purchase of the site (lease ended); founding of the independent association Friedehorst – Vereinigte Anstalten der Inneren Mission e. V.

• 1957

  Establishment of a Berufsbildungswerk (vocational training centre) with an apprentice home.

• 1956

  First institution in northern Germany to offer training courses in elderly care and for young people with disabilities.

• 1948

  Pastor Heinrich Johannes Diehl becomes first Vorsteher, serving until 1980.

• 1947

  Friedehorst – Vereinigte Anstalten der Inneren Mission in der Bremer Diakonie founded on 19 September on the site of a former Wehrmacht barracks; 50 people admitted by year-end.

A large, regional diaconal foundation and modern service centre for health and social care in Bremen-Nord, combining charitable tradition with specialised services.

• Berufsförderungswerk Friedehorst

  Vocational rehabilitation and retraining services for adults.

• Teilhabe Leben

  Services for participation and living for people with disabilities.

• Dienste für Senioren & Pflege

  Outpatient and inpatient care, day care, therapeutic care and service living for seniors.

• Kinderhospizdienst Jona

  Children's hospice service.

• Eldon-Burke-Quartier

  Inclusive neighbourhood being developed on the Friedehorst campus.

1. 1Stiftung Friedehorst – Official Websitefriedehorst.de
2. 2Über uns – Stiftung Friedehorstfriedehorst.de
3. 3Kontakt – Stiftung Friedehorstfriedehorst.de
4. 4Stiftung Friedehorst – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
5. 5Stiftung Friedehorst Bremen – Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Über unsfriedehorst.de