Network

The Care Revolution network at a glance

Network

The Care Revolution network is a nationwide association of regional groups, cooperation organisations and people who are active in various fields of care work. In the long term, we are striving for new models of care relationships and a care economy that focuses on people's needs rather than profit maximisation, and that does not distribute care work and care resources according to racist, gender or class-based structures.

Members:

Regional groups

Wherever possible, work on the ground is organised in the network's regional groups. They work in the various cities in terms of content and develop activities, often in alliances. Each regional group sets its own priorities and agrees on its own way of working. If you are or would like to become a member of the network and would like to set up a regional group within the Care Revolution network, write to us at koordination@care-revolution.org; we will be happy to advise and support you!

Cooperation organisations

On the basis of our resolution, we invite all organisations, groups and initiatives that are involved in the care sector - or would like to be - to become cooperation partners. If you would like to become a cooperation partner, simply contact us. This will then be announced internally in the network and existing cooperation partners can raise justified objections. If there is an objection, we will try to find a solution through dialogue. If there is no objection within two weeks, the new group will be included, i.e. it will appear on the homepage and be added to the e-mail distribution list.

Individuals

If you would like to become a member as an individual, please write to us. We will ask you for a brief introduction; the admission procedure is the same as for cooperation organisations.

Communication and decisions:

All members are added to the network's online membership mailing list. Decisions that apply to the entire network are made via this mailing list according to the consensus principle.

Several members or the coordination group can propose decisions to the network via the mailing list. These are accepted if no objection is received within two weeks. In the event of an objection, applicants and critics try to find a joint solution. If this results in a new text, it is again sent to the distribution list as a proposal. Every member has the right to lodge an objection. If it is upheld, the proposal fails. So far, we have had good experiences with the responsible use of this veto right.

Committees:

Network meetings: every six months https://care-revolution.org/netzwerktreffen

Participation is open to all, including non-members. Only members have the right to vote at the meetings. Network meetings can take place online or in person. The minutes of the meetings are made available to all members via the members' mailing list.

Coordination group: monthly

The coordination circle organises the exchange between the groups and joint initiatives as a network between the network meetings. Participation is open to all members; the coordination circle itself decides on its working methods. The minutes of the meetings are made available to all members via the members' mailing list.

"Functional working groups"

Working groups, which are open to members, are to be set up for various tasks affecting the entire network. These working groups have a service function for the network and report to the coordination group. They can be set up on a permanent basis; at present there is only the event working group. They can also be set up on a temporary basis until their purpose has been fulfilled. Examples are working groups for the organisation of network meetings or for the development of an updated resolution.

Thematic working groups

Network members can set up working groups on projects and topics of their choice. Like the "functional working groups", these can also be set up on a permanent or temporary basis. They themselves decide whether the working groups are open to non-members of the network.

Coordination centre

The Solidarisch Sorgen e.V. association, the network's cooperation organisation, employs two part-time coordinators who also support the ongoing work of the network in order to fulfil the association's objectives. At least three members of the network have access to mailboxes, member lists, the website and social media accounts. The coordination centre can be contacted at koordination@care-revolution.org.

The Care Revolution network - really at a glance

If you want to know more: This is how we are organised as a network

Who/what is the Care Revolution network?

The Care Revolution network consists of individuals, regional groups and cooperation organisations. It was deliberately founded in 2014 as a loose association without an independent cross-group level. It has not given itself a legal form, so there is no network association with membership lists and membership fees, for example. The question and concept of membership have therefore been handled quite informally since the network was founded; a working group is currently working on proposals for a new regulation.

1) It is possible to join as an individual by communicating your wish to become a member, including a brief introduction. This is sent via the membership mailing list. Within two weeks, any member can then lodge a reasoned veto. Inclusion in the mailing list after two weeks then corresponds to membership. The number of individuals in the network has never been surveyed and is therefore not known.

2) In addition to the individual members, the regional groups are the second pillar of the network. There are currently seven active regional groups: Berlin, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Leipzig, Middle Franconia, Rhine/Main, Rhine/Neckar. Anyone who is active in a regional group is automatically a member of the network; the regional groups themselves determine who belongs to them.

3) The third pillar is the cooperation organisations. Here, as with individuals, the request for membership is sent via the membership mailing list; an objection can be lodged within two weeks. Members of these organisations who work in the network, e.g. in the coordination group (see below), are regarded as members of the Care Revolution network in the current practice. This is to be reorganised in the future.

What it means to be a cooperation organisation was not clearly defined at the start of the network in 2014. At the time, the network saw itself as an attempt to bring together a care movement that was just emerging in 2014, and it should be possible for groups and organisations to declare their affiliation to this project without difficulty. Being a cooperation organisation gives the respective group or organisation the right to participate in the network. How they fulfil their membership, whether it means a one-off declaration of sympathy or active cooperation, is up to them.

At present, there is no fixed regulation on the exclusion of groups or individual members. Such a case has not yet had to be dealt with in practice.

How are valid decisions made for the network?

The fundamental autonomy of the groups in the network is the central design principle of the Care Revolution network. It is not restricted by formal regulations. Because the network was founded as a politically diverse organisation and this diversity has always been seen as a strength of the network, there have only been a few attempts to formulate jointly supported texts.

We revised our rules for decision-making in the network in 2023 and 2025. On the one hand, we want to become more effective as a network as a whole and enable interested parties to join more quickly. On the other hand, the principle that decisions are made by consensus and the autonomy of the groups in the network should not be affected. The main features of the current regulations are outlined below:

1) Decisions valid for the entire network are made via the member distribution list; the consensus principle applies here. If an objection is lodged, the applicant and the objector try to reach a solution. To ensure that consensus decisions are possible in a large, diverse context, all members are called upon to use this instrument sensitively.

2) At the semi-annual network meetings, recommendations for decisions can also be made by consensus. These are put to the vote after the network meeting via the members' mailing list. The network meetings are generally open to members and interested parties; only members have the right to vote or veto. The network meetings take place in person or online. Their procedure and content are organised by a working group set up in each case, in which, in our practice, all members can participate.

Coordination group

The coordination circle (co-circle) meets on a monthly basis. Participation is open to all members; the invitations with the agenda and the minutes are made available to all members via the members' mailing list. Active network groups, in particular the regional groups, should be regularly represented in the co-circle wherever possible. There is a co-circle mailing list through which cross-group discussions are held and votes are taken that would overload the "large" network mailing list. The co-circle mailing list is also open to all members on request.

The co-circle can make decisions that are considered neither fundamental nor controversial within the co-circle. Decisions made via the distribution list are subject to a four-day objection period, and seven days for financial applications. Due to the challenge of the Co-Circle itself deciding what is "neither fundamental nor controversial", the Co-Circle will focus on self-restriction and transparency: decisions or publications by the Co-Circle will be labelled "Co-Circle", not "Network", in line with previous practice.

Working groups

Since 2025, we have also formally had two types of working groups. In one case, interested parties explicitly come together as a thematic working group or working group within the network. These working groups are independent in their decisions and it is also up to them whether they are open to interested parties outside the network. In any case, however, they must identify themselves to the outside world as a working group within the network; they cannot speak for the network, even on "their" topic.

The preparation of network meetings or the event working group are examples of working groups that do not develop and communicate positions themselves, but which are intended to help establish the framework of the network's activities, i.e. have a "service function". In order to spread the maintenance of the network over as many shoulders as possible, we want to set up such "service" or "functional" WGs for as many areas of work as possible. Participation in these working groups is open to all network members. These working groups report regularly to the co-committee and may also accept work assignments.

At present, there is only one such permanent working group, which organises online events or assists with their organisation on request. More will be set up if there are enough interested parties. There are also occasional temporary "functional" working groups, for example to organise network meetings.

At present, some service tasks - looking after mailboxes, maintaining the website, producing a monthly info mail, convening the co-circle, ensuring the flow of information between the co-circle and the network - are carried out by the part-time employees of the Solidarisch Sorgen "coordination centre" (see below). With regard to access to the digital infrastructure (website, mailing list, newsletter, social media account, mailboxes), the principle applies that at least three people must have access to these accounts in order to ensure that they can work on a permanent basis.

Documentation and transparency

Minutes are taken of the network meetings, the meetings of the co-circle and those of the "functional" working groups. The minutes of the network meetings and co-circle meetings are sent out via the members' mailing list once the participants have agreed to their content.

The "coordination centre" in the Solidarisch Sorgen association

Solidarisch Sorgen e.V. is a non-profit organisation funded by donations. The association is a member of the Care Revolution network as a cooperation organisation in order to fulfil its purposes - please refer to its website for details.

In this context, the two part-time employees (19.5 hours/week) at Solidarisch Sorgen e.V. support the functioning of the network during their work. Insofar as they take on work within the network, they do so in consultation with the network committees. They are neither spokespersons nor employees of the network.