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Gelderland | 20 May 2024

Jeugdfonds en Leergeld: ‘Wij versterken elkaar in onze kennis en mogelijkheden’

The Leergeld Foundation and the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture help children living in poverty so they can participate in sports, cultural activities, or school activities just like their peers. Gelderland spoke with Tanja van Driel (social worker at Putten voor elkaar / Municipality of Putten and intermediary at the Youth Fund) and Heleen Remijn (coordinator at the Leergeld Randmeren Foundation) about common ground and wishes for the future.

Who are you and what do you do?

Tanja: I'm a social worker at Putten voor Elkaar and, in this role, also an intermediary with the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture. Putten voor Elkaar is the social work organization in Putten. My areas of expertise include improving basic skills (language, math, digital skills), combating poverty, and organizing meetings about meaning-making. This role aligns perfectly with my role as an intermediary with the Youth Fund.

Helen: "I'm the coordinator for the Leergeld Randmeren Foundation in Putten. Together with three intermediaries, we're active in Putten for children between the ages of 4 and 17 who are struggling financially at home."

What does your foundation and fund stand for?

Tanja: We ensure that residents can (continue to) participate in Putten's community. The municipality of Putten wants all Putten residents to be able to actively participate in the community. And that they receive the right support quickly and effectively when needed. This desire led to the creation of Putten for Each Other. In this role, I also act as an intermediary with the Gelderland Youth Fund for Sports and Culture, enabling children and young people from low-income families to participate in sports or cultural activities.

Helen: The Leergeld Foundation helps families with financial worries in the Netherlands. Our foundation ensures these children have the same opportunities as their peers. For example, we help with school supplies, a laptop, swimming lessons, or a bicycle. You can participate through Leergeld in four different areas: education, sports, culture, or well-being.

Is there ever any friction because you both support the same target group?

Tanja: "No, we complement each other and have a very good working relationship. We collaborate on promotional activities and brainstorm with each other about applications that come in. In addition, all the children in my Youth Fund file who were under 18 have transferred to Sam& and are now being supported by the Leergeld Randmeren Putten Foundation."

Helen: The beauty of the partnership with the Gelderland Youth Fund for Sport & Culture is that we leverage our knowledge and resources. While the Youth Fund provides financial opportunities for children to participate in sports, Leergeld can offer that little bit extra by paying for the necessary sports equipment or clothing. Or if the Youth Fund pays for a child's guitar lessons, Leergeld can pay for the guitar, allowing the child to practice comfortably at home.

Do you have a good example of the collaboration/interconnections between the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture and the Leergeld Foundation?

Tanja: We create PR together and regularly come up with new campaigns. Last year, Putten voor Elkaar purchased a portable billboard. We started designing A1-sized posters with the Sam& back office. The billboard has already been displayed at local sports clubs and a thrift store, and in May 2024, it will be on display at another thrift store for a month. A volunteer from the Leergeld Foundation always makes sure the billboard gets from A to B.

Helen: "It's been truly special to discover, together with Tanja, that there are so many opportunities to join forces, and that's especially true now that Sam& has also established a presence in Putten. This allows us to better support families in need and connect them with the right support Putten has to offer."

What do you hope to achieve in your community with the help of the Youth Fund/Leergeld Foundation?

Tanja: "That people simply apply if they're entitled to it. We're noticing that people still find it a big step to apply."

Helen: We hope that the Leergeld Foundation and the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture can work together to help even more children, thus contributing to their healthy development, especially those struggling at home. And that parents who need help will be able to find us more easily.

What are your wishes for the future?

Tanja: We wanted young people turning 18 to be able to continue with the activities they were able to do thanks to the funds. Since January of this year, the Adult Fund has also been available in Putten. This allows young people aged 18 and older to continue playing sports or taking their cultural lessons, because unfortunately, poverty doesn't end after you turn 18.^th birthday.

Helen: We believe that sports clubs in Putten can certainly make an active contribution in identifying children who may be eligible for support from the Leergeld Foundation and the Youth Fund. So, a great goal for the future would be to reach them even more effectively, so we can reach more children and ensure that all these children can continue to participate.