5,000 euros for the Jena City Fire Brigade Association

On Friday, January 23, 2026, the Jena City Fire Brigade Association received a symbolic funding notification for 5,000 euros. The funds come from a funding program of the Thuringian State Chancellery and are earmarked for measures to recruit members to the volunteer fire department.

The notification was handed over by Guntram Wothly, Volunteer Commissioner of the Thuringian State Chancellery, and Benjamin Koppe, Mayor and Head of the Security Department of the City of Jena, in the vehicle hall of the Jena professional fire department. Also present were Jens Thomas (Die Linke), member of the state parliament, representatives of the Jena professional fire department and Dr. Tobias Kaaden and Gina-Sophie Merkel, both on the board of the Jena City Fire Brigade Association.

The funding was applied for in August 2025 and approved in December 2025. Immediately afterwards, the city fire brigade association invested the funds in advertising and information material for public relations work to recruit new recruits - including a pavilion, notebooks, coloring pads, jute bags and pens, which will be used at trade fairs, congresses and exhibitions in the future.

Guntram Wothly emphasizes: "Volunteering means doing something for others - and thus making community possible in a very concrete way. Considerable funds are available in Thuringia to promote volunteering - and that's exactly what it's all about: support should go where people take on responsibility. The work of the fire departments in fire and disaster protection in particular shows how vital this commitment is - this was made clear not least by the major forest fire on the Saalfelder Höhe in July 2025. Volunteering is home, heart and attitude at the same time - and the Jena City Fire Brigade Association demonstrates this impressively: from Jena for Jena."

Mayor Benjamin Koppe says: "The volunteer fire department is a central component of our city's emergency response. Without the commitment of the volunteer firefighters, effective fire protection in Jena would not be possible. The interaction between the professional fire department and the volunteer fire department is an indispensable prerequisite for this. In order for this structure to function in the long term, it is necessary to continuously recruit young people and to specifically address new members. The funding makes the work of the volunteer fire department more visible and provides an important impetus for recruiting new members. The city of Jena would like to thank the Thuringian State Chancellery for its clear focus on volunteering through the newly established funding guidelines, as well as the city fire brigade association for its commitment to recruiting young talent."

State parliament member Jens Thomas (Die Linke) explains: "The volunteer fire department is not an honorary position like any other - it is existential in the truest sense of the word. That's why recruiting new members is a key task. Especially against the backdrop of demographic change, which is having a noticeable impact on many associations, this funding is money well spent: it strengthens structures that support our towns and districts."

Gina-Sophie Merkel, Chairwoman of the Jena City Fire Brigade Association, explains: "The application process was unbureaucratic and quick - that was really helpful for us. We would like to thank the Thuringian State Chancellery for its support and uncomplicated funding. We would also like to thank the Jena professional fire department in particular: they provided us with practical support with the application and also with ordering the materials. The main way to attract young people is through encounters - in conversation, by trying things out, with an open, inviting appearance. With the new material, we can be more present at events and reach families and young people in particular. The funding helps us to make the volunteer fire department in Jena even more visible."

Caption: Symbolic handover of the grant to the Jena City Fire Brigade Association: On display are advertising and information materials already purchased (including a pavilion and give-aways) for recruiting members and new recruits. From right: Mayor Benjamin Koppe, Member of Parliament Jens Thomas, Gina-Sophie Merkel (Jena City Fire Brigade Association), Honorary Commissioner Guntram Wothly (Thuringian State Chancellery) as well as Dr. Tobias Kaaden (3rd from left, Jena City Fire Brigade Association) and representatives of the Jena Professional Fire Brigade.

Symbolische Übergabe (v. r.): Bürgermeister Benjamin Koppe, MdL Jens Thomas, Gina-Sophie Merkel, Ehrenamtsbeauftragter Guntram Wothly sowie Dr. Tobias Kaaden (3.v.l.) und Vertreter der Berufsfeuerwehr

© Stadt Jena