10 percent increase in applications in the province of South Holland despite falling poverty figures | September 2, 2024
10 percent increase in applications in the province of South Holland despite falling poverty figures
Despite the CPB reporting that the percentage of children in poverty has decreased from 7% in 2022 to 4.7% in 2024, the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture South Holland has seen a 10% increase in applications in South Holland compared to 2023. This increase is due to the growing number of families unable to pay their sports and culture club memberships and the growing awareness of the Youth Fund. Today, Monday, September 2nd, the "Simply Possible" campaign is being launched to inform parents about the financial options available to enable their children to participate in sports and culture.
A study will be published in October in collaboration with ABN AMRO; the sample shows that 30% of the parents surveyed cannot afford their children's participation in sports and cultural activities. The Youth Fund finds these results alarming. Furthermore, the fund expects that the proposed tax increases and budget cuts will make it more difficult for many families to participate in sports and cultural activities, even with the planned improvements in poverty reduction and purchasing power. Margriet Gersie, chair of the Youth Fund Sport & Culture South Holland, emphasizes the need to keep sports and culture accessible to all children in the region, regardless of their financial situation:
Sports and culture are not luxuries, but a basic right for every child. We must ensure that every child, regardless of their financial situation, has the opportunity to discover and develop their talents. Only then can we build a healthy and resilient society.
More than just sports and culture
The "Simply Possible" campaign launches at the beginning of the new sports and cultural season and aims to inform parents about the financial support available through the Youth Fund. It also highlights the broad impact of sports and cultural activities by demonstrating that participation contributes to personal growth, building friendships, and boosting self-confidence.
A mother who has used the fund shares her experience:
Sports mean everything to my children. They learn to work together, discover their talents, build their self-confidence, make new friends, and develop social skills.
Petra Bosman, Director of the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture in the Netherlands, underlines the importance of this:
"When children and young people develop physically, mentally, socially, and creatively through participation in sports and culture, they increase their chances of becoming full members of society. Starting early and participating for a longer period of time positively impact their development and help reduce inequality of opportunity.
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