With the new volunteer scholarship, the city of Wuppertal will be supporting young people who are involved in voluntary work from 2026. The aim is to reduce financial burdens and make volunteering more visible in all its diversity.
Ten scholarships will be awarded each year. The grant comprises €150 per month for one year and can be used for any purpose. In addition, a small support program will be set up.
Applications are open to 16 to 27-year-olds with an existing volunteer commitment.
All information on the process, the criteria and the application form (to follow) can be found further down the page.
Procedure
Application 📄
Apply from April 29 to May 29, 2026, you can find the eligibility requirements here.
Formal examination 🔍
We will check whether your details and documents meet the requirements.
Jury meeting 🗳️
On June 13, 2026 , a jury will award five scholarship places.
Lottery procedure 🎲
All other suitable applications will be placed in the lottery pot. A further five scholarships will also be drawn on June 13.
Start of the scholarship 🚀
The official start of the scholarship is July 1, 2026.
FAQ: Information about the project
The City of Wuppertal's volunteer scholarship supports young people who are involved in voluntary work. The aim is to lower financial barriers, make it easier to get involved in everyday life and make the valuable work of young people visible.
Ten grants are awarded each year - €150 per month for 12 months. The money can be used for any purpose and is intended to compensate for time or financial burdens. Workshops, exchange formats and networking opportunities are also planned.
- 150 € per month for 12 months
- A total of 10 scholarships per year
- additionally planned: non-material support (opportunity to participate in workshops, network meetings and exchange formats)
The scholarship has no specific purpose and is intended to compensate for time and financial burdens.
The aim is to ensure that commitment does not fail because of money.
Eligible are young people...
- between the ages of 16 and 27,
- who are already involved in voluntary work,
- whose commitment takes place in Wuppertal or who live in Wuppertal,
- who are pupils, trainees or students (also dual/training) or
are in a transitional phase with a maximum mini-job income (currently €603/month).
In addition, there must be a financial need (self-declaration is sufficient).
A minimum duration or minimum number of hours of voluntary work is not required.
Persons who receive other scholarships such as the Deutschlandstipendium, Wupper scholarships or the Gemeinwohlstipendium during the funding period are excluded.
The application runs digitally via www.talbeteiligung.de.
The application period is from April 29 to May 29, 2026.
All we need from you for the application is
- brief information about yourself (name, age, place of residence, e-mail address),
- information about your volunteer position (location, area, tasks),
- optionally a few voluntary details to help us assess who we can reach.
The application is deliberately kept very low-threshold and short. Everyone should have the same opportunities. A large support network, good language skills or a lot of time should have no effect!
- Application phase
You submit your application digitally (April 29 - May 29). - Formal review
The Citizen Participation and Promotion of Civic Engagement Unit checks whether you meet the eligibility requirements (age, voluntary work, Wuppertal connection, financial need). - Jury meeting - June 13, 2026
A diverse panel decides on five scholarship places. - Lottery procedure - also June 13, 2026
All applications that are not selected by the jury are automatically entered into the lottery procedure. A further five scholarships will be awarded here. - Start of the scholarship - July 1, 2026
The ten selected scholarship holders will receive €150 per month for one year.
Scholarship holders are selected in two stages so that diversity is taken into account and equal opportunities are guaranteed.
- Jury decision (5 places)
A jury made up of members of the Citizen Participation Advisory Board with people from administration, politics, institutions and citizens assesses all formally suitable applications. The jury takes into account diversity, different life situations and forms of involvement. - Lottery procedure (5 places)
All other formally suitable applications automatically take part in the lottery procedure. The lottery takes place during the jury meeting under the supervision of those present.
The scholarship holders are not informed whether they have been selected by lot or by the jury, so that both selection procedures are of equal value.
