More Than a Legal Obligation
This quality standard builds on the legal requirements for child protection in clubs but deliberately goes beyond them. This is because effective child protection in a club does not end with checking criminal background checks—prevention, raising awareness, and fostering a culture of vigilance within the clubs are also crucial. Even during the development of the quality standard in 2015, it was important to the members of the working group to take a more comprehensive approach to child protection and to embed prevention sustainably within organizations.
“By signing the Declaration on Child Protection, clubs and associations commit, among other things, to supporting children and adolescents in their development, respecting their personality and dignity, responding attentively to potential risks, acting responsibly as role models, and continuously refining protection strategies and preventive measures,”, explains Drittenpreis.
Quality standard is continuously being refined
Since 2024, the quality certification has been awarded not only digitally but also as a certificate in a public setting during the symposium “Child Protection in Clubs.” The certificate bears the year of award and makes the organizations’ commitment visible to the outside world. At the same time, a procedure for the regular renewal of the quality standard has been developed. Using a self-assessment form, clubs can document how they permanently embed child protection within their organization. Renewal is recommended at least every five years. The new self-assessment questionnaire will be presented for the first time at this year’s symposium.
Child Protection Is Gaining Importance in Clubs
The success of the quality seal is also reflected in the numbers: To date, 228 clubs, associations, and church congregations have entered into an agreement with the district administration office and thus received the digital quality seal. Of these, 118 organizations have already received a certificate.
“At the beginning, the primary focus for many organizations was simply meeting legal requirements. Today, we’re seeing that many organizations are engaging deeply with the issue and often already have a comprehensive protection plan in place or are in the process of developing one. We’re constantly impressed by the level of commitment volunteers bring to child protection and the high quality of care this fosters within the clubs,” says Drittenpreis.
Clubs achieve this quality certification in various ways—through their own initiative, via their umbrella organizations, or through recommendations from other organizations. The district administration office regularly provides information about events and support services. Cities, municipalities, and other network partners are also actively promoting the issue within the club community.
Symposium “Child Protection in Clubs” on October 10, 2026
The next symposium “Child Protection in Clubs” will take place on Saturday, October 10, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.at the District Office (Hindenburgstraße 40, Ludwigsburg). The event is aimed at volunteers in clubs and associations that work with children and youth. This year’s focus is on the topic of “Perpetrator Strategies.” Expert presentations, practical insights, and information booths from various specialized agencies will provide knowledge, opportunities for exchange, and concrete guidance for developing and implementing effective protection strategies. Further information about the event and the quality standard is available at https://www.landkreis-ludwigsburg.de/KiSchu-im-Verein.
