Hannover is committed to social participation and gender-sensitive urban development – An analysis of social policy in January 2026

Social Participation and Safety – The Summer Lounge as a Central Actor

In January 2026, the Summer Lounge on Andreas-Hermes-Platz was at the center of social policy discussions in Hannover. The project, supported with 160,000 euros from municipal budgets in 2026, is a flagship for social integration and gender-sensitive urban development. With a clear focus on women and FLINTA persons (women, lesbians, inter*, trans*, non-binary, and agender individuals), the public space is not only used but actively shaped.

The Summer Lounge offers a diverse program: dance evenings, concerts, open-air cinema, self-defense courses, and yoga classes, all with a high degree of safety and social relevance. Social work on site, especially by organizations such as SEWO, La Strada, or the Bahnhofsmission, contributes to strengthening the sense of security of the users.

Support for Disadvantaged Groups – From the Terrace to Employment

Another focus of the Summer Lounge is the support of people with addiction problems and the homeless. The daily contact point on the wooden terrace offers advice, drinks, and social support. In total, the project reached around 220 people in 2025, with 30–40 users present almost daily.

Particularly noteworthy is the integration into further support services through street social work. Overall, 160 employment positions were created, strengthening daily structure and a sense of responsibility. The successes of the Summer Lounge are also evident in the reduction of conflicts and littering, as well as in the increasing number of visitors.

Social Art and Third-Party Funding – The Project “Unheard Sounds”

In addition to social and cultural offerings, the Summer Lounge also has an artistic dimension. The project "Unheard Sounds" promotes social participation through swarm art in collaboration with artists and social workers. With support from third-party funds and in cooperation with the artist collective Atelier-Dreieck, the Andreas-Hermes-Platz is not only used as a meeting place but also as a cultural beacon.

Communication takes place through various channels such as flyers, posters, and event calendars, thereby increasing reach and participation. The planning for 2026 also includes the redesign of the Andreas-Hermes-Platz within the framework of the master plan for the northern main station, which underlines the strategic importance of the project.

Social Policy Challenges – The Situation of Unaccompanied Minor Refugees

In addition to the Summer Lounge, the situation of unaccompanied minor refugees was also in focus in January 2026. In a joint session of the Youth Welfare Committee and the Social Committee, a hearing was conducted in which experts from refugee and youth welfare organizations gave statements.

Invited personalities came from organizations such as UFU, IKJA e.V., Janusz Korczak Hannover, Diakonische Migrationsberatung, and the Network for Traumatized Refugees. The hearing aimed to examine current challenges and solution suggestions for the care of this particularly vulnerable group.

Outlook: Continuation and Expansion of Social Offerings

The experiences from the Summer Lounge in 2025 and the positive developments in social work show that Hannover is on the right track. The planning for continuation beyond 2026, including a possible extension into the autumn, signals the willingness to anchor social offerings in the long term.

In addition, an expansion of personnel costs is being considered to ensure the continuity of the offer. The feedback from users, who wish for a continuation, confirms the importance of these social spaces in the urban context.

Conclusion: Social Participation as a Central Building Block for an Inclusive City

Hannover shows with the Summer Lounge and the hearing on unaccompanied minor refugees that social policy is not just a marginal topic, but a central building block for an inclusive and safe city. The combination of cultural offerings, social work, and political support makes the city a model for other municipalities. In the coming months, it will be exciting to observe how these projects develop further and what new impulses they will set.