A funding project that enriches lives

"Participation also means taking part in digital life," says Christina Ising, Residential Care Manager at Lebenshilfe in Brakel. Thanks to the motivation and willingness of the Lebenshilfe team, Bike Labyrinth became the core of the digital participation project. During the Corona crisis, which significantly affected the everyday lives of the residents in Brakel, Christina and her colleagues looked for new ways to maintain contact and overcome isolation. Many project applications, proposals, and concepts later, the Lebenshilfe team received a grant from the “Sozialstiftung Nordrhein-Westfalen ”, a German foundation in North Rhine-Westphalia. As part of social innovations, which particularly aim to improve the quality of life, the funding significantly enabled the digital participation project in Brakel. With the help of the funding, the team in Brakel was able to finance staff training on media literacy to support residents in using new media. Additionally, the funding enabled the purchase of a total of six Bike Labyrinths! And that was a complete success: "Everyone who cycles with Bike Labyrinth has a smile on their face," reports Christina joyfully.

A meeting place for shared adventures

Bike Labyrinth is especially popular in the evenings or on weekends when the residents have more free time. Sharing their experiences on the adventurous routes promotes community and inspires valuable conversations. "Anyone can sit down and join in," says Christina. This makes Bike Labyrinth a social experience, where it's not just about physical activity but also about shared experiences. The opportunity to share virtual travels gives the residents the feeling of discovering new worlds, regardless of their physical limitations.

Bike Labyrinth makes dreams come true

Christina tells us that "Bike Labyrinth fulfills the dream of a long-awaited journey." She describes how the virtual routes help many residents make their biggest wishes come true. For those who can no longer travel due to physical limitations, the dream of Paris becomes a reality with Bike Labyrinth: "I'm finally in Paris," says one resident who regularly goes on virtual adventures. Christina especially appreciates the virtual routes for the ease with which exercise and activity are integrated into everyday life. In contrast to traditional exercise programs, which are often perceived as stressful, Bike Labyrinth offers an innovative alternative. "Bike Labyrinth convinces with its inviting character and also appeals to residents who show little interest in physical activity." The Residential Care Manager emphasizes how much joy the virtual routes bring - not only to the residents but also to the staff in Brakel.

There are already plans for the future: The follow-up project called “#Rookie” is intended to continue to enable digital participation. Through continuous funding, Lebenshilfe Brakel hopes to further expand the project and enable other organizations to benefit from the positive experiences.

We are very pleased for the residents and staff that the licenses for the 6 Bike Labyrinth systems were extended by 2 years in April 2025, allowing everyone to continue enjoying our 800 virtual and interactive tours.

If you have any questions about financing Bike Labyrinth, feel free to contact us so we can support you on your way to our virtual routes.