On 3 November 2026, the Schleswig-Holstein Citizen Prize and Democracy Prize were awarded in Büdelsdorf . Three recipients were honoured: in the Under-27 category, the youth club run by TSV Silberstedt; in the “Everyday Heroes” category, the support network for people affected by hardship, Blinkfüür from Neumünster ; and, for the Democracy Prize, Schleswig-Holstein’s 15 district sports associations . The awards ceremony was organised by the Schleswig-Holstein state parliament together with the Savings Banks and Giro Association of Schleswig-Holstein.
The youth club run by TSV Silberstedt was recognised for a programme led by young adults, offering weekly creative and physical activities for children aged between six and twelve. According to the jury, the club promotes participation and reliability in rural areas by providing free, regular leisure activities and easing the organisational burden on families. The project is run by volunteers and is explicitly open to children regardless of whether they belong to a club.
The Blinkfüür support network from Neumünster received the award in the “Everyday Heroes” category. The association supports people who experienced sexualised violence during childhood or adolescence. According to Blinkfüür, it connects support services, encourages exchange between survivors and works with ministries and university institutions. The jury particularly praised its accessible support, psychosocial assistance and contribution to raising public awareness of the issue.
The state’s 15 district sports associations were honoured with the Democracy Award. At district level, they bring together clubs from a range of sports, train volunteers and represent their interests to politicians and public authorities. Vice-President of the state parliament Beate Raudies (SPD) said, according to the organisers, that the associations strengthen local communities through their extensive networks, promote integration and make democratic culture part of everyday life. The award highlights the role of organised volunteering beyond sport.
The Civic Engagement and Democracy Award is traditionally presented jointly by the state parliament and the state’s savings banks. It recognises initiatives and projects that foster social cohesion through civic engagement. This year’s winners represent key areas: out-of-school education and childcare for children, support for victims and survivors, and the civic impact of associations with a broad community base. The ceremony in Büdelsdorf continued the series of statewide awards recognising projects in social, cultural and democracy-building fields.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).