Open fires are prohibited in public areas

"The City of Paderborn expressly points out that open fires are prohibited in public areas, especially on municipal green spaces. Furthermore, there is currently an acute danger from barbecuing and making fires, especially due to the ongoing drought.

This means that open fires are generally only permitted in designated areas and on private property.

Unfortunately, the city of Paderborn has recently discovered that this law has been violated, for example, in the area of ​​the castle and meadow park and at Lake Lippe. Such violations are punishable by fines.
Furthermore, it's important to ensure proper waste disposal.

The city and the Schlosspark und Lippesee Gesellschaft regularly observe that barbecue or picnic leftovers are not properly disposed of. In this case, too, a fine can be expected."

https://www.paderborn.de/.../109010100000300336.php...

paderborn.de

Offenes Feuer im öffentlichen Bereich verboten

Stadt Paderborn warnt vor Gefahr durch Grillen und Feuermachen

What's on This Weekend?

Fathers Day / Vatertag 29th May 

The annual celebrations of hand carts filled with Beer is here. German Fathers day is a different celebration than the traditional UK card for Dad. 

On Vatertag it is popular for groups of men to parade through towns with a handcart loaded with beer and snacks. These hikes are often cheerful and loud, with a focus on community and celebration.

image copyright Stefan Arend

RBLI Lifeworks Families – new remote courses now available

Lifeworks Families Remote courses will run on the following dates:

• Monday 23rd - Thursday 26th June
• Monday 28th - Thursday 31st July

Lifeworks Families courses are available to those in the UK and overseas.

Lifeworks families courses are available to spouses, partners, school-leaving age (and above) children and extended/blended family members.

Lifeworks Families courses are available to serving and veteran family members.

To view the Lifeworks Families leaflet, please click here.

What's on this weekend?

Jumping! On the Mausolino's Bouncy Castle festival in Rietberg Gartenschau 

May 23 to June 15. The inflatables will be ready daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the northern part of the park. 

copyright gartenschaupark-rietberg.de

They are suitable for children up to 14 years old. Adults must unfortunately watch. Adult day ticket 6.00€ , children aged 4 and over: €2.00 (Plus 2 Euro park entry). Drive time 29mins.  Visit the website for more information.

Sennelager Schutzenfest Sat 24th - 26th May 

Lots of activities to join in with go to the the website for full details.

Japan Tag  Dusseldorf - Sat 24th 

Join the massive festival in Dusseldorf- Modem and traditional Japanese celebrations collide in this much loved festival. Wander the Rhine promenade and try all the food. 

Get pictures with the Cos play specialists. Try out traditional Japanese archery.  Live music events with bands from Japan flown in. Food stalls will keep you fed with tasty treats along the Rheinepromenade.

copyright visitduseldorf.de

A massive firework show will round off the day at 11 pm. Hotel rooms are available but are selling fast. Travel from Paderborn is approx 2hrs by train though check the last train back. or the drive time is 2 hrs.  check parking apps for spaces to avoid being caught out.

Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) bank holiday arrangements for 26 May 2025

The Department for Work and Pensions (including Jobcentre Plus) office opening arrangements are different for the 26 May bank holiday. 

England, Scotland and Wales: 

On Monday 26 May offices and phone lines are closed. 

To make sure people get their payment on a day when our offices are open, arrangements have been made to make some payments early. 

If the expected payment date is Monday 26 May then benefits will be paid early on Friday 23 May. If the expected payment date is not shown, customers will get their money on their usual payment date.  

Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update from DIO, 16 May 25

Early adopters of new online platform HomeHub

DIO in collaboration with Pinnacle, Amey and VIVO, have invited a small group of Personnel and families as early adopters of HomeHub – a new online platform for households to easily manage repairs, appointments and their SFA in general.

Early adopters include representatives from all three services and a mix of ranks and locations – with the aim of gaining a broad representation of our SFA community and estate.

Those participating will be contacted in the coming days with instructions on how to take part. From this month until August, they will have access to an early version of HomeHub where they can feedback their honest thoughts and experiences through surveys.

For those families supporting the development of HomeHub as early adopters, your help in gathering feedback will be invaluable in helping us refine the portal into a seamless and user-friendly platform that really meets the needs of our families. A finalised version of HomeHub will be rolled out to all SFA this year.  

What's On This On

Exercise, fun fairs and museum trips are the highlights for the weekend and beyond. 

Events to enjoy include; Luna Park in Paderborn a bicycle fair  & auction in Schloss Neuhaus, a new play park with the summer programme of free exercise classes start in Paderborn. 

17th May - Luna Park- Paderborn. The Fun returns with the fair. all the usual food and drink to enjoy. Plus rides like the Beast and plenty for younger kids too. 23rd May will have a closing firework presentation. As Always the fair will be on Maspernplatz.

18th May - Holy Communion at St Bonniface Garrison church. Contact Padre Nick with any questions on +49 1722595317

18th May 11.00 Paderborn Cycle Day - Schloss Neuhaus

Learn about cycle rules in Germany and try out a whole range of different bikes. Plus you can bid on recovered and repaired bikes in the auction to snap up a bargain at 14.30. 

What's On This Weekend

Fairs and festivals are on the menu this weekend. It is your chance to enjoy some free  music and entertainment. This weekend you can try out as a member of the Paderborn Fire Dept 

Paderborn Fire Dept celebrates 150 Years

A family day has been set up to celebrate the event in the Schloss.  The whole family can look forward to a varied program including a blue light mile, a marching band concert, activities for children, food stalls, etc.

Start: 11.05.25 from 11 - 18 o'clock in Schloss Neuhaus. 

Paderborn SpringFest 

The annual free event returns to the city from the 9th -11th May.

Music and arts sprawl across three stages and downtown Paderborn.  World class artists put on a show in in the streets and you can dance the night away with rock and blues, singer song writers, marching bands and Techno DJ's .

The whole thing gets started at 19.30 on Friday night. With a mass Drum Band to bring the energy. The three stages at the Town Hall, Westener Str and the Market place will have acts on through the weekend including live bands and DJ sets. 

Between the stages artists like the giant balloon guy (World champion Baloon artist.) and the balance on your head couple Kate and Parsi at 15:30 & 1730 Sat & sun  will compete for your attention with the NOX 2.4m tall robot who will be in town at 11.30 1330 and 1530 moving between the stage areas. 

The Cheat lounge will be putting on street food and drinks Fri - Sun with service 17.30 - 2300 on Fri & Sat and 12.30 - 1700 on Sun when there will be Sunday shopping available during the day. 

Sunday services at St Boniface Garrison church

11th May – 10:30 Holy Communion 4th Sunday of Easter St Boniface

18th May – 10:30 Holy Communion 5th Sunday of Easter St Boniface

26th May – 10:30 Holy Communion 6th Sunday of Easter St Boniface

Children and families welcome, refreshments after the service

Any question please contact Padre Nick on +49 1722 595317

Paderborn 1945: The End of the War 80 Years Ago

An exhibition by the Paderborn City and District Archives. In the Foyer of the City Administration, Bahnhofstr. 28/30, Paderborn

• 8 May - 11 July 2025
• Monday to Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

17 exhibition panels show nearly 80 largely previously unpublished photographs of the destruction and harsh life in the immediate post war period. The city, littered with rubble, lacked everything: food and clothing, heating fuel and electricity, and housing. 

Yet, as early as 1945, the first steps toward improvement began. Clearing the rubble began, with the rubble railways beginning in September. A panoramic view from the cathedral in 1945/46 not only reveals the extent of the destruction, but also provides evidence of a slow improvement and the beginnings of reconstruction.

The bombing raids on Paderborn began in 1940, initially isolated and targeted at military installations and the railway network. Civilian facilities and residential buildings were hit, albeit on a significant scale, by misdirected bombs or inaccurate targeting. 

This changed on January 17, 1945. On that day, Paderborn experienced its first serious area raid, followed by the last on March 27, which led to the almost complete destruction of the city.

Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust: Support for families serving overseas

The Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust (the Trust) has awarded over £600,000 to support families serving overseas.

According to UK defence personnel statistics up to April 2024, around 5,700 armed forces personnel were stationed overseas. While the majority (66%) were posted within Europe, other key regions included North America, North Africa and the Middle East, and Asia.

Following the Trust’s own research and consultation, they launched the Supporting Serving Families Overseas Programme. Now, they have awarded nine projects a share of £127,642, with funding making its way to Spain, the Middle East, Cyprus, Belgium, Italy and more!

The projects funded in this round represent a range of support for the whole family. From support for those who have experienced, or are at risk of, domestic violence, to emotional health support for adults and children to help strengthen relationships while overseas.

Overseas, overstretched

A new posting can bring with it the usual upheaval: packing and moving all your belongings (drowning in moving boxes!), changing schools, changing job, leaving the dentist it took you 12 months to find. But add to that a language barrier, not being allowed to work for the next 2-3 years, having to pay for storage for all the things you can’t take with you, not to mention having to rebuy things you’ll need that won’t work in other countries, and you’ve got yourself an overseas posting!

The projects the Trust has supported seek to provide targeted support for families in-location to improve wellbeing and make the transition abroad easier.

Milspo Thrive, 13th May, a FREE ONLINE summit designed to help Military spouses and partners grow a business that works for them

 Are you a military spouse or partner running a business (or dreaming of starting one)?

Join us on 13 May for Milspo Thrive – a FREE ONLINE summit designed to help you grow a business that works for you, wherever military life takes you.

✨ Hear from expert speakers

🤝 Connect with fellow military spouse business owners

📈 Walk away with practical tools and fresh inspiration

Join the waitlist

 

VE & VJ Day 80th Anniversary

At 3pm on 8 May 1945, Prime Minister Winston Churchill took to the airwaves to announce that Germany had surrendered, bringing an end to nearly six years of war in Europe.

In anticipation of the long-awaited news, millions across the country and throughout the Commonwealth took to the streets to celebrate. Victory in Europe Day became a national holiday. Colourful bunting and flags were hung. Bonfires and fireworks were lit. People danced and sang.  The pubs were full of revellers.

Now, 80 years on, we will come together again as a nation through a series of national and local events, kicking off next week, to pay tribute to the Second World War generation - serving at home and abroad - who fought bravely for the peace that endures today.

However you plan to mark this important anniversary, we hope you reflect on those who paid the ultimate price for freedom and thank our living veterans for their contributions to the war effort. 

V for Victory! #VE80 

What's On this Weekend?

This weekend 

May 3rd Sat & Sun 4th May  - Paderborn Travel fair 

Visit the airport to check out the potential bargains from tour operators like Freebird. we are promised some specific bargains just for the event.  A Bouncy Castle & face painting for kids. With lots of ice cream and food & drink for sale.  Free entry. (Paid parking) Drive time just under 20 mins.

Paderborn Airport website

Thursday, May 1st to Sunday, May 4th - Dalheim Garden Festival

Dalheim Monestary, Garden Party.  Enjoy the Monestary gardens plus the many market stalls and attractions set up for you. Perfect if the weather is nice. Definitely one for those looking to buy plants flowers and garden wares this year. Drive time is 27 mins.

Dalheim gartenfest

Thursday May 1st - Sunday May 4th - Bad Pyrmont Landpartie

With music, markets a food and drink, the Bad Pyrmont Kurpark turns into a mini festival this weekend. Enjoy the Beautiful park and Schloss. Drive time is one hour (ish  - 1hr 20 mins for the scenic route.) from Sennelager.  Tickets from 13 Euro online

Bad Pyrmont Landpartie

Thursday May 1st - Sunday May 4th - Maxi Park Hamm


Just under an hour from Sennelager, this park offers gardens and multiple play areas with splash zones and more. over the weekend you can enjoy a large spring fest market, buy plants and more and get tips from garden experts. Adults 7 Euro. Drive time 54 mins

Tickets available from the website.

From Thursday 1st May  Paderborn Rolandsbad outdoor pool 

The paderborn Rolandsbad outdoor pool opens for the summer from Thursday.  Drive time 11 mins. 

Visit the website for date that the other pools will open from.

Thursday 1st may - 25th May - iTronic Dinosaurs Bielefeld

The world of Dino's comes alive. think Jurassic park and you have this immersive event for the family. full animatronic dinosaurs interact with visitors in themed environments. 15 euro for children up to 16 the 20 Euro for Adults. watch a website  of the event here.  Drive time is 25 - 30 mins. 

4th May - Future Garden Schloss Neuhaus 11 am - 1800 

Your chance to learn about sustainable garden planting and permaculture and to meet experts and ask questions. Vist the event website.