"Right in the middle of the social space" - BeB summer tour at EVIM in Hattersheim
As part of its summer tour, the Bundesverband evangelische Behindertenhilfe e.V. (BeB) visited the Evangelischer Verein für Innere Mission in Nassau (EVIM) in Hattersheim. BeB Chairman Stefan Frank and Managing Director Barbara Heuerding found out about current developments in the Participation division and talked to EVIM's Board of Directors, Participation management and specialist staff.
A social enterprise in the heart of Hesse
EVIM is one of the largest social enterprises in Hesse. Since 2024, the areas of elderly care, youth welfare, participation and education have been bundled in a non-profit limited company. "This is a strong sign of the cooperation and cohesion that has grown at EVIM," emphasized CEO Matthias Loyal.
Commercial Director Jörg Wiegand also made it clear that EVIM now operates "in the middle instead of on the periphery": Hattersheim has developed into a vibrant community in which EVIM is part of the neighborhood with a wide range of services.
Making participation visible in everyday life
Holger Thewalt , Deputy Head of the Participation Division, warmly welcomed the guests to Café Flair: a lively meeting place where clients can develop career prospects - often the first step into companies outside the workshops. Ralf Thies (Head of Vocational Integration) then impressively illustrated how social space orientation works here in concrete terms, reporting on the successful expansion of in-house employment relationships (BIB) and, building on this, numerous placements in the primary labor market.
Another highlight was the tour of the inclusive residential building with a daycare center under one roof, which will open at the beginning of 2026. This will provide 22 barrier-free living spaces combined with a daycare center. "We have further developed our experience from the first inclusive project and tailored it even more closely to the needs of the residents," explained Nils Bayer, head of the residential complex. The concept combines residential and care services with modern neighborhood work, digital solutions and a high level of accessibility.
Smaller but effective projects also show how EVIM enables participation in everyday life: EVIM Teilhabe has been operating the Hattersheim post office with highly committed clients for eight years - a natural part of the town's infrastructure.
Successes in the areas of work and education
One focus of the exchange was on EVIM's workshops and educational programs. Stefan Berg, head of the workshop network, presented impressive figures:
- 920 people are currently taking advantage of work and education offers.
- In the first half of 2025, 8 placements subject to social insurance contributions were already achieved in the general labor market - making EVIM one of the leaders in Hesse.
- In 2024, 121 company-integrated jobs (BiB), 43 combined BiB places (Kombi-BiB) and 98 internships in companies were realized.
"This shows that participation in the general labor market has long since become a reality for many people," emphasized Berg.
Challenges: Inclusion and the need for support
The professional exchange also focused on the increasing number of behavioral problems. According to Ralf Thies and Nils Bayer, behavior that endangers themselves and others is increasing significantly. Schools reported similar developments - a trend that poses major challenges for providers.
"No provider can bear this risk alone. There is a real threat of drama if people are excluded as a result," warned Stefan Frank. EVIM is responding with innovative approaches, such as a transition group with a higher care ratio for people with particularly challenging behavior.
Positive impetus and innovative concepts
Despite all the challenges, there are also encouraging developments:
- Barbara Heuerding referred to progress with the project "Right of wish and choice" project"We are seeing that intensive work is resulting in real improvements in people's everyday lives."
- Holger Thewalt: "EVIM is very well positioned in terms of structure and personnel and can look back on many years of experience in client-centered and socio-spatially oriented work. Today, this forms the basis of good and modern services."
This results in practical solutions that set an example beyond EVIM.
Specialists as the key to the future
Like many providers, EVIM is also faced with the task of recruiting enough qualified specialists. Despite good framework conditions and an attractive employer profile, this remains a key challenge.
Conclusion
The visit to Hattersheim made it clear: EVIM is right at the heart of the social space today. Whether it's Café Flair, the post office or an inclusive housing project - the examples show how participation is put into practice. Impressive placement figures prove that people with disabilities are given real opportunities on the general labor market.
"EVIM shows impressively how inclusion can succeed in the neighborhood - with a lot of practical relevance, creativity and courage," Stefan Frank summarized his impression.
This was the impression that the BeB representatives took away with them: EVIM is shaping inclusion not on the fringes, but in the heart of the neighborhood - and is setting standards in Hesse. (hk)