Paderborn and Bolton celebrate twinning with new exhibition for the Libori

Paderborn and Bolton,  celebrate the 50th anniversary of their town twinning.

To mark the occasion, the two cities, together with the Raum für Kunst (Space for Art) and the German-English Club Paderborn, have conceived an exhibition that will be on display in the city library.

In March of this year, the German-English Club launched an ideas competition under the motto "Look at – Spot on." Ten selected entries from Paderborn and Bolton will now be presented. They will be presented in pairs to reflect the twinning connection expressed in the English term "twin town." 

The artworks were created by students from both cities, while the photographs were taken by German and English students.

The exhibition "Mind the Gap," which was shown in the Raum für Kunst (Space for Art), was created on the occasion of an artistic exchange between Paderborn and Bolton. 

"Mind the Gap"—originally a warning sign from the London Underground system—becomes a symbol of the gaps and disruptions of our time. 

The presentation in the city library features a selection of works by Paderborn artists that were part of the exhibition in the Raum für Kunst (Space for Art). 

The focus is on questions of social, cultural, and personal spaces in between.

Libori 2025

All the information for this years celebration can be found on the Libori website here.

Here are some dates for the calendar 

Sat 26th July 

• At 3 p.m., the relics of St. Liborius are solemnly raised in the cathedral, accompanied by the Libori fanfare. A vespers service follows.
• 2 p.m the funfair opens on the Liboriberg 
• 4.30pm Mayor Michael Drier will tap the giant beer barrel at the Rathausplatz which is the traditional start of the non religious celebrations. 

Throughout Libori week you will find entertainment in the city including: 

At the main stage on the Rathausplatz live acts every evening.  The Lenz stage a few minutes away on Westernstraße has a smaller stage for bands.

© Matthias Groppe

The forecourt of the city library will be transformed into the "Square of Small Arts." Visitors to this square can look forward to nine special days with a mix of acrobatics, comedy, theatre, puppetry, and musical diversity.

Food and drink is well covered with many street food stalls and beer gardens set up to enjoy. The Europlatz again will be the focus of the food stalls.

Transport 

A Park & Ride shuttle service is available on both Libori weekends, Saturday and Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.

The large parking lot at Heinz-Nixdorf-Ring (Riemekestraße 154) Parking at the HNF ring is free. Bus tickets are 2 Euro for Adults and 1 Euro for children aged 6-14 years.

Padersprinter are offering some low cost tickets on bus services. for the festival:

• 2.00 €/adult in advance*
• 2.50 €/adult on the bus
• 1.00 €/child (6 – 14 years) in advance and on the bus
• *Discount applies when purchasing an online ticket (timetable app), at the smilecard terminal, at the ticket machine and at the mobile sales points
• Valid for 90 minutes in the city of Paderborn

Details of all bus services can be found on the Padersprinter website here.

What's On at the Mohnesee

The summer holidays in North Rhine-Westphalia have begun, and with them, there's a lot going on at the Westphalian Sea.  It goes without saying that there's a lot going on in, on, and on the water at Lake Möhne this summer...

Starting on the water. If you don't just want to chill by the lake and occasionally plunge into the waves, you can rent all kinds of boats, go diving, or fishing. The options are there! 

Further information

Wraparound Childcare funding updates for autumn term 2025

What is Wraparound Childcare (WAC)?

The WAC scheme provides funding for up to 20 hours per week, per child, during term time, to eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if in receipt of disability allowances), who are in full-time education in school or being home educated. WAC funding is available to eligible working Service families in the UK, assigned overseas within the European Economic Area & Switzerland (EEA&S), assigned overseas and using Defence Children Services (DCS) before and after school childcare provision or assigned overseas unaccompanied with family remaining in an eligible location.

Since September 2022 WAC has provided funding for 12,500 Service children's before and after school childcare.

WAC funding does not provide childcare spaces, it is funding for costs incurred when eligible families pay for before and after school childcare.

Wraparound childcare is also known as ‘Out of School care’ in Wales and ‘School Age Childcare’ in Scotland.

What's On This Weekend?

Lots of fun to enjoy this weekend. With the start of the holidays kids can access swimming pools in Paderborn / Sennelager free of charge. Rietberg has a water park set up for the kids. Brackwede has a DJ pool party set up. 

Dusseldorf is hosting Germany's biggest funfair with spectacular drone and fireworks show. 

Munster is hosting the Summersend fair.

The Kaltenberg medieval fair puts on a full arena show with jousting and sword combat plus an immersive themed market. 

Rietberg Gartenschau Water fun - Open Now 

The Garden Park is hosting six weeks of water based fun for kids this summer. From 1000 - 1800 each day you pay to enter the park (6 Euro for adults and 3 Euro for kids.) Then the water slides and boats are free to use. 

You will find the water park in the North section of the park (Make sure you head to the correct side of the park you can spend a long time walking between the two sides.)

It’s here: Global Mobility Allowance trial begins

It’s here: Global Mobility Allowance trial begins

From 1 July, eligible Service personnel are now invited to register for a new overseas allowance that offers an easier claims process and greater flexibility on spending.

Global Mobility Allowance (GMA) is being trialled as a new way to receive a financial contribution towards expenses that arise when you move to or from an overseas permanent assignment in:

• Brunei – 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles (2RGR) and Brunei Garrison Staff (incl. 667 Sqn, 5AAC) only
• USA – British Defence Staff US (BDSUS) administered locations only
• Kenya – British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) Garrison Staff only
• Europe/ Rest of World (RoW) – Global Support Organisation (GSO) administered locations only

Assigned overseas? Have your say on Service family life

If you and your partner are assigned overseas, Defence wants to hear from you on what Service family life is like. Share anonymous feedback in the Overseas Families Survey.

Tell Defence what information and support has helped you and your family while serving overseas, and what could be better. Here are some areas you’ll be asked about in the survey: spousal / partner

• employment
• education and childcare
• communications
• safeguarding

Your feedback will help to inform Defence’s policies and initiatives to better meet the needs of you and your family.

How to complete the survey

You can complete the survey online. You and your partner can share your views individually using same survey link. The survey is open to all Regular and Reserve Service personnel and their spouses / civil partners. Please be assured that survey responses are anonymous.

You have until Saturday 30th August to make your voice heard.

Help us to help you

The more people that complete the survey, the better able Defence is to make informed choices on how to improve various aspects of Service life for you and your family.

The previous Overseas Families Survey contributed to the launch of Defence’s new Families Hub – this is a one-stop-shop digital platform, which signposts to a wealth of information, support and organisations, to help navigate Service family life. Topics include childcare, partner employment, housing, welfare and much more. – this is a one-stop-shop digital platform, which signposts to a wealth of information, support and organisations, to help navigate Service family life. Topics include childcare, partner employment, housing, welfare and much more.

If you have questions about the survey, please contact the MOD Armed Forces Families and Safeguarding team: people-AFFS-data-research@mod.gov.uk.

To view previous survey results, visit GOV.UK.
Useful information and resources

To find out about the range of allowances, opportunities, and benefits for you and your family, visit the Discover My Benefits site.

For useful signposting to information, guidance and support to help navigate Service family life, visit the Families Hub.

To explore Defence’s plan to drive forward positive initiatives for Service families, read the Armed Forces Families Strategy 2022-2032.

For information and support on a wider variety of topics affecting your Service and personal life, including relocation and local area information, contact the relevant HIVE:Royal Navy Family and People Support
Army HIVE
Royal Air Force HIVE

DIO Families First Newsletter – Issue 28

Click to enlarge.

The latest issue of the Families First newsletter is now available on the Defence Homes website and Defence Connect.

DIO Service Family Accommodation (SFA) Communications Update - 27 June 25

An update on communal areas

We have heard from many of you at our SFA roadshows and we know families wish to be able enjoy communal spaces and gardens to the front of their properties. In many cases, these areas provide a valuable space for garden furniture and play equipment.

We have a duty to ensure that communal areas are safe, but we also want to see a common-sense approach that balances safety and convenience for families.

The SFA Consumer Charter announced in April sets out our commitment to empower families and to enable you to take decisions about your home.