Bethel - This is Bethel

Woman holds girl in her arms
Man sits on a therapy horse and laughs

Being there for people: This has been Bethel's mission since it was founded in 1867. Today, the v. Bodelschwingh Foundation Bethel is committed to helping disabled, deseased, elderly or disadvantaged people in many regions of Germany. Bethel is one of the largest diaconal organisations in Europe. In over 150 years, a diverse network of help has been created. It includes assistance and care services in people's own homes, special forms of housing, care facilities, clinics and hospices, offers for participation in education, rehabilitation and work as well as schools, training centres and universities.

The employees put their hearts and expertise into caring for and supporting people, counselling them and treating them. This is how Bethel remains today: characterised by diaconal work and social commitment.

Bethel at a glance

Who we are, what we do

Cheering people on a sports field
Healthy or ill, with disabilities or without - at Bethel we are convinced that all people can live, learn and work together - how different they may be.
Our principles

The most important facts and figures

  • Around 24,000 employees

  • Around 300 locations

  • Represented in 8 federal state

  • Berlin
  • Brandenburg
  • Bremen
  • Lower Saxony
  • North Rhine-Westphalia
  • Rhineland-Palatinate
  • Saxony
  • Saxony-Anhalt
Further information

Our offers and services

Diaconal character, social commitment

A Bethel employee supports a person with epilepsy who is in a wheelchair.

Active charity

The word Bethel comes from the Hebrew and means "house of God". Our name is also the guiding principle of our actions. Every day, our employees put the Christian commandment of charity into practice - in Berlin, in Bielefeld and in many other places.

Bethel is recognised as a non-profit, charitable and ecclesiastical organisation. We are a church foundation under private law and are subject to the foundation supervision of the Protestant Church of Westphalia.

Archive image of the village of Bethel

History of Bethel

Beein there for people for over 150 years.
Bethel was founded in 1867 as a home for young people with epilepsy. The aim was to give people suffering from seizures a new home at a time when less able-bodied people were increasingly being pushed to the margins of society.

Learn more

On the road in Bethel

Local plan

Local plan

Where is what in the village of Bethel? Our map provides an overview!

Close to people

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