Voluntary guardianships

Young minors who have come to Hamburg without parents or whose parents have been deprived of custody need legal representation. The law gives priority to voluntary guardianship over official guardianship due to the personal relationship level. As a guardian, you support the reorganization of living conditions and are a stable reference person for young people. By arranging a voluntary guardianship, the children and young people have someone at their side to build a personal, trusting and lasting relationship.

- Fulfill the tasks of parental care:

- Accompanying to important appointments as a legal representative
- Support with learning German
- Make leisure activities
- Be a person of trust

No previous legal or educational knowledge is required. 
Guardianship is not linked to taking the ward into your own household.

Become a guardian if you...
... are willing to take on responsibility and commit to making some of your free time available for the needs of your ward.

... live in stable financial circumstances and do not suffer from any serious physical
or mental illness that could negatively affect the implementation of the guardianship.

... have an appreciative and participatory attitude towards children and young people.

... are willing to cooperate with authorities and other institutions (e.g. youth welfare office, schools, shared youth accommodation) in the interests of the ward.

... are not afraid of confrontations with authorities and strive for a balanced assertiveness.

... are willing to take part in our training courses, further training and exchange meetings.

Advantages and support during the guardianship:
- Intensive and binding preparatory training
- Support from social education workers from the Child Protection Association
- Further training and regular exchange
- Liability and accident insurance during the volunteer work
- Compensation for expenses
- Discounts in Hamburg facilities through the "volunteer card" of the Kinderschutzbund
- Volunteer card from the City of Hamburg (after one year)

- approx. 2-4 hours per week

- Dates can be arranged flexibly

- Regular meetings in public spaces

Attending the basic modules is a prerequisite for volunteer
guardianship in the Child Protection Association. They serve as preparation for the voluntary position, to get to know each other and as an aptitude test. Afterwards, the guardianship can begin.
Before participating in the basic training courses, we conduct a personal meeting with the interested person.
In addition, a police clearance certificate is required. We will be happy to explain what this is all about in the introductory meeting.

The next information evenings about our volunteer programs will take place online via Zoom on 29 April 2026 and 14 October 2026 from 6-7 pm.
Please register if you are interested at: ehrenamt@kinderschutzbund-hamburg.de or here via vostel.de.