The Senior Citizens’ Services and Social Offerings department consists of full-time employees of the district office and many volunteers. In the meeting centres or in the social commissions, the volunteers do uncomplicated and committed work that is indispensable for the department. A total of six community meeting centres are located in the districts of Prenzlauer Berg, Niederschönhausen, and Wilhelmsruh. In their free time, older persons can meet there, discuss current issues over a cup of coffee, enjoy activities together or take part in a wide range of events or educational workshops. Dancing, senior citizens’ university, hiking groups, bus trips, steamboat trips or cultural events, painting and drawing courses are just some of the activities offered by the meeting centres.

Grants are another major area in the Senior Citizens’ Services and Social Programmes department. Grants are payments to bodies outside the Berlin administration to fulfil specific purposes. The Office for Social Affairs supports programmes and projects run by independent organisations based in Pankow with funding.

The programmes are planned, coordinated and supported jointly. The fact that the district of Pankow is changing is also taken into account. The people in the district are getting older, more diverse, and more active.

Together with the volunteers, the staff organize leisure activities for the guests of the meeting centres and are open to everyone. The Senior Citizens’ Services and Social Programmes department is made up of the following areas: news, meeting centres, volunteering, grants, care and counselling services, exercises for older people, cultural programmes for older citizens and early retirees, and District senior citizens’ representation. Up to 17 senior citizens’ representatives are active in each district. They report on activities, dates and events on their district websites.