The municipality of Brummen and the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture have been collaborating since August. The partnership was initiated by the municipal council. This fund helps children from low-income families participate in sports and cultural activities, such as soccer, dance, music, theater, or swimming lessons. The Youth Fund then pays the membership fee or tuition. This gives every child the opportunity to do something they enjoy.

Start during Children's Holiday Games
During the closing ceremony of the Children's Holiday Games in Eerbeek, Alderman Yasemin Cegerek and Nathan Stukker, chairman of the Gelderland Youth Fund for Sports and Culture, officially signed the partnership agreement. Yasemin Cegerek: "Every child deserves the opportunity to participate and develop. That's why the municipality, together with the Youth Fund for Sports and Culture, is committed to equal opportunities for all children." Nathan Stukker During the kick-off, he also emphasized the importance of every child being able to participate in sports and culture and that children should not be sidelined.

Make a request
Parents can only apply to the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture through a Meerkracht (Dutch equivalent of a teacher, neighborhood sports coach, or debt counselor, for example). They can also properly assess a child's eligibility. If the application is approved, the Youth Fund will pay the membership fee or tuition. Often, it's possible to start within three weeks. For more information, visit the municipality's website: https://www.brummen.nl/inwoner-en-ondernemer/werk-en-inkomen/regelingen-bij-laag-inkomen

The municipality of West Betuwe is extending its partnership with the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture for a four-year period. Aldermen Wil Kosterman and Jan de Geus signed the agreement on April 3rd. "Every child in our municipality should be able to participate. If money is a problem for your family, we're happy to help," De Geus explains. 

The municipality of West Betuwe wants all children to have access to sports, dance, music, or theater, regardless of their parents' financial situation. Alderman De Geus: "By extending the agreement with the Youth Sports & Culture Fund, no children will be left behind. This way, every child can continue to develop socially, physically, and emotionally. And do what they enjoy. That's important for their personal development."

Swimming diplomas

Residents are gratefully taking advantage of the program. In 2023, 216 successful applications were submitted. "This makes fun cultural activities accessible to children. We received many applications for soccer, fitness, and dancing. Many children have also earned their A swimming certificate thanks to the Youth Fund," Alderman Kosterman explains. In the coming years, there will be a greater focus on obtaining B and C swimming certificates through the Youth Fund.

Make a request

Parents can only apply to the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture through an intermediary. This could be a teacher, community sports coach, debt counselor, or a member of the Social Team or Welzijn West Betuwe. They can also properly assess a child's eligibility. If the application is approved, the Youth Fund will pay the membership fee or tuition. Often, a program can begin within three weeks. For more information, visit the municipality's website or contact Marjet Koets at Welzijn West Betuwe.

Photo: Dorine van der Bruggen (general board member of the Youth Fund Sports & Culture), Alderman Jan de Geus, and Alderman Wil Kosterman sign the extended agreement between the Youth Fund and the municipality of West Betuwe.

From now on can adults from municipality of Putten Those living on a subsistence level can use the Adult Sports & Culture Fund. Residents aged 18 and older can apply for a sports or cultural activity.

In the municipality of Putten, 3.301 percent of households have an income at or around the social minimum. Of residents aged 18 to 65, 111 percent indicate they have difficulty making ends meet. The municipality of Putten: “We had been working together for a while now Youth Fund Sports & CultureWe wanted to expand this program to include adults. We believe it's important that every resident can participate in a sporting or cultural activity, regardless of their financial situation.

How does the Adult Sports & Culture Fund work?

Residents can apply to the Adult Fund through an intermediary operating within the municipality of Putten. Would you like to benefit from the Adult Fund's support? For more information, please visit: www.volwassenenfonds.nl/deelnemers.

Do you live in another municipality?

Would you also like to get involved in sports or a creative activity? But you don't live in the municipality of Putten? Search for your municipality via the municipal checker and find out whether your municipality has already joined.

Local authority?

Are you a municipality in the province of Gelderland and interested in joining? Contact us Jurjen Engelsman via gelderland@volwassenenfonds.nl. He'll be happy to tell you all about it!

Together we make participating in sports or a creative activity possible within your community.

Venlo aims to be the healthiest and most active municipality in the Netherlands. Venlo.fit, the municipality's Sports Development team, is working hard to achieve this ambitious goal. To become the healthiest and most active municipality, everyone must be able to participate, including children from low-income families. Marc Denessen is JOGG director and project leader at Venlo.fit and works closely with the Youth Fund in Venlo.

Within Venlo.fit, JOGG is working to create a healthy living environment for children and young people. Marc Denessen is specifically focused on 'Keigezond', a program to prevent obesity in children and young people. "Helping children eat better, exercise more, and sleep better," says Marc Denessen. "Many aspects play a role in helping children grow up healthy. We primarily work preventatively. We do this by connecting all the networks children interact with: home, school, sports clubs, dance schools."

Candy tomato

The ambition is there, but the reality is sometimes challenging. Marc: “Obesity is becoming increasingly common in children, especially in families with limited resources. Parents are focused on survival and primarily focus on the short term. They don't have the energy to delve into a healthier lifestyle. Often, parents haven't set a good example themselves. This is how an unhealthy lifestyle becomes inherited. To break this vicious cycle, you also need schools. If they don't give cherry tomatoes at home, the child will say, 'I don't like them.' But if there's a nutrition project at school and the child tries a cherry tomato a few times, they'll start to like it. They'll tell their parents about it, and there's a chance that this vicious cycle will be broken. We can relieve schools to a certain extent and facilitate projects on healthy lifestyles, but ultimately, they have to do it themselves.”

Healthy Primary School of the Future

Venlo.fit collaborates with the Youth Fund in Venlo. "We're not seeing more children leaving sports or cultural clubs," says Marc. "But we are seeing more families applying for funding from the Youth Fund. We know the intermediaries at schools, so we're aware of the number of applications. The lines of communication with the Youth Fund are short. When we initiate a project, the Youth Fund almost always gets involved."

In Venlo, we're trying to make a difference. We're one of the first municipalities to commit to the "Healthy Primary School of the Future," where children eat a healthy lunch together during school hours; this lunch is free. And during school hours, children get an extra hour each day to move, for example, through sports or dancing. We do this specifically at schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods, but what we're now seeing is that schools in more affluent neighborhoods also want to get involved. Research shows that thanks to this project, children perform better, become fitter, and lose weight.

So, it's very beneficial when children eat healthily and exercise more. At school, children are introduced to sports or street dance, for example, and if there's no money for a club at home, they can be referred to an intermediary who can help them apply to the Youth Fund.

>> Go to the Venlo.fit website

In Rheden, children who want to participate in sports or cultural activities can use the Gelrepas if they don't have enough money at home. It's well-organized, and the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture is also active in the municipality. Alderman for Poverty Policy Gea Hofstede: "We are very happy with the Youth Fund as a safety net. There will always be cases where children don't qualify for a Gelrepas or where the pass isn't sufficient. And yet all children should be able to play football, dance, or paint."

For Gea Hofstede, it's essential that children can participate. "That's why we've chosen a robust childcare package in Rheden, partly funded by additional government funding for child poverty." Children can use the Clothing Pass, support from the Leergeld Foundation, and the Gelrepas. The latter was established in collaboration with several municipalities. "We want as much of the money as possible to actually benefit the children. In that case, it's smart to share the organizational costs with several parties."

Leaving your troubles behind

The situation of families in poverty is a matter of great concern to the alderman. "When you, as a parent, have financial worries, your mind is full, and that has an impact on the situation at home. It's good for children to be able to leave their worries behind for a while and do something fun. Children develop better when they are socially active, they learn better, and they discover new things. Children deserve a good start in life, and that shouldn't depend on their parents' finances!"

Much to be gained in culture

That's why Hofstede is also keen to champion cultural activities. "Culture isn't the first thing people think of; they think they're not entitled to it. Cultural activities are often more expensive, so sometimes the Youth Fund can provide a supplement. That's good, because it creates a wide range of opportunities where everyone can develop their talents." And culture can contribute in other ways, the alderman explains enthusiastically. "Last summer, the RIQQ Cultural Company created a beautiful performance for and by young people about family poverty. It was impressive and was performed at several schools. It's not like applications suddenly flooded in afterward, but it does spark conversation. For example, young people approach the youth coaches with questions about their finances."

Keep naming

And that conversation remains necessary. "We have 2,700 Gelrepas pass holders, but we're still far from reaching everyone who needs it. Many people who don't receive benefits but are on the social minimum income (150%) don't even know they can apply for a Gelrepas for their children. We're investing a lot of time and energy in publicizing the programs, and our partners are helping with that. Intermediaries are crucial in this; they're the ones who can bring it to parents' attention that, in addition to the Gelrepas, there's also the Youth Fund. For example, swimming lessons often require supplementation from the Youth Fund, and every child should be able to get their swimming diploma!"

Really participate

Hofstede and the team responsible for poverty policy are constantly responding to new developments. "We're monitoring changes in schools, sports, and culture. Our partners, such as the Youth Fund, are also participating in the poverty consultations to provide input. It turns out, for example, that secondary school children simply can't do without smartphones; everything happens on them. So, first-year secondary school students can now get a smartphone through the Leergeld Foundation. We're also monitoring developments in sports. Padel, for example, is a new sport that's becoming increasingly popular, so we try to make it as easy as possible for providers to join." Gelrepas to join. The most important thing is that you leave no stone unturned to ensure children participate in social life. That's why I recommend every municipality with its own program to also consult with the Youth Fund. Every child helped is another child we can make a difference for!

More information for municipalities

Ahmed Aboutaleb, mayor of Rotterdam: "If you're healthy and feel good, learning also goes better. A good reason to play sports. Children also learn a lot during sports, such as playing in a team, understanding the game, and following the rules. Culture teaches you to think more creatively, which also helps with language and math."

Photo: Marc Nolte

Getting children involved in sports and cultural activities costs money. That money isn't always available, which is why the Youth Sports & Culture Fund exists. Parents might be embarrassed to use it.

“To give all children the opportunity to develop their talents”

There's no reason to be ashamed of the fact that you have to think carefully about your finances. I can imagine that a broken washing machine is more of a headache than your child's sports club or music lessons. That's precisely why the Youth Sports & Culture Fund exists: to give all children the opportunity to develop their talents.

Aboutaleb is also a poet and poetry lover. "Unfortunately, I don't have much time to write or translate poems. However, I always have a poetry collection on my bedside table. It's nice to read a beautiful poem before bed that takes you away from things for a moment."

Art and culture live in the city

Rotterdam is adept at organizing major cultural and sporting events. But what I love most is the sheer number of active sports clubs, and the vibrant life in the city of arts and culture. Sports and culture bring people together, and that gives you wings. I want that for every child.

This article previously appeared in the 'Choose a Club Newspaper', an initiative of the Rotterdam Youth Fund for Sports and Culture. This newspaper was distributed door-to-door in Rotterdam as a supplement to De Havenloods at the end of September 2021. Read the newspaper online here. 

With the new sports season just around the corner, we've compiled some helpful information regarding applications. Still having trouble? Our help desk is available 5 days a week!

Repeat request

Did you know that...it's now even easier to submit a repeat application for a child? This is possible using the repeat button. This is possible if the child's name and address have remained the same. The repeat button will save intermediaries a lot of time, because information already on file doesn't have to be re-entered.

Rules per municipality

Did you know?...each municipality has its own rules? And that these rules sometimes change? Check our website occasionally to stay up-to-date!

Parent card

Did you know that...when parents first apply to an agency, it might be helpful for them to fill out a parent card themselves. This allows parents to provide all the information themselves, preventing the agency from discovering that information is still missing mid-application!

Contribution amounts

Did you know that...many providers' fees increase every year? Therefore, parents should thoroughly inquire with their provider about the costs for the upcoming season, so they don't face additional costs.

Accessibility

Did you know?...our helpdesk is available 5 days a week to answer all your questions? Feel free to call 06-14322908 from Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM, or send an email to noord-holland@jeugdfondssportencultuur.nl. If you provide your application number, we can always help you faster.

Want to know more? Also check out our frequently asked questions.

Nathalie Rozenveld is a poverty coordinator at the Municipality of Zwolle. Together with experienced experts DiedeBongertmanKarin ter Horst is working hard to raise awareness of poverty in schools. The project will last two years and is now halfway through. "Poverty should really be a permanent issue on the agenda."  

In the photo from left to right: Nathalie Rozenveld, Karin ter Horst and Diede Bongertman.

Poverty is a complex issue and a difficult subject to raise awareness of. Yet, it's necessary because an average of two to three children per class grow up in poverty. The Municipality of Zwolle has launched a two-year project to raise awareness in primary and secondary schools. "We visit schools, tell teachers what poverty is, what the signs are, and where parents can find help," says poverty coordinator Nathalie Rozenveld. "Teachers are often unaware of it. Parents have often become adept at hiding it because they're ashamed. That makes it difficult to identify poverty, let alone bring it up for discussion. And yet it can happen to anyone, for example, as a result of divorce, bankruptcy, or job loss. People don't realize how vulnerable they are, even if they have a job." 

Expert by experience opens doors

The decision to involve a poverty coordinator and peer support worker was a deliberate one. Nathalie: “Because the peer support worker shares her story, the impact is greater than if I were to simply provide figures. Thanks to her story, teachers realize that a family can quickly become vulnerable and that it's then difficult to find support. They can also ask her questions, and she offers tips on how to bring it up for discussion. It's not that complicated. After a divorce, you can simply ask if the parent is managing financially. We support schools by providing them with overviews and information about resources available to parents. But the primary focus is on raising teachers' awareness.” 

Prejudices

Poverty causes stress, and stress makes you less able to see the bigger picture and focus on the long term. "We want to create more understanding for the stress that arises when a family has little money. There are many prejudices about people in poverty: stupid, fat, making unwise decisions. For example, 'no money for healthy food, but money for cigarettes.' This too easily overlooks the effect stress has on your brain. You go into survival mode, only able to plan day by day. The days when only the less educated end up in poverty are long gone. We see people from all walks of life; in fact, people who always had a good job are even less able to find support services than people who have been receiving benefits for a while." 

Future

The project will run for two years, but Nathalie believes poverty should be a permanent fixture on the agenda. “We're trying to ensure it's a permanent fixture by also sharing our story with teacher training colleges (PABOs) and raising awareness among prospective teachers. Teacher training colleges are receptive, and we're seeing that students are surprised by how prevalent poverty is, but they also find it fascinating. Poverty deserves continuous attention. Our goal is to actually give it that attention.”

Jenneke Bos is a JOGG director and sports promotion officer for the municipality of Kampen. Her role is to encourage Kampen residents to become active or to stay active. Jenneke was involved in the realization of Cultuur@CruyffCourts, a collaboration between the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture and the Johan Cruyff Foundation, which organizes cultural and creative activities on Cruyff Courts in underprivileged neighborhoods.

"The opportunity to organize Cultuur@CruyffCourts was a real treat because it dovetailed perfectly with the Boomerang project that was already underway," says Jenneke. "That allowed us to get started quickly. The implementation was handled by Welzijn Kampen, and it went very well. I contributed to the process, and we were in regular contact. Welzijn Kampen believes it's important to connect with families they haven't yet contacted. They want to make it easier for parents to ask for help. The result of Cultuur@CruyffCourts was a vibrant Cruyff Court where parents and grandparents came to watch."

To link

Jenneke: “We focus on good contact and collaboration in the neighborhood. The goal was to collaborate with the school, cultural providers and sports clubs, and professionals. So, not on separate projects, but rather on linking activities. With Cultuur@CruyffCourts, all of that came together. It was visible; there were great activities in a familiar location close to home. This gave well-being the opportunity to build a bond with the children and establish a connection with the family. This allows us to better assess whether support is needed or whether existing support needs to be streamlined. We can only assess whether this has actually been achieved later. Measuring is knowing, but the direct effects are difficult to quantify. We do see that children who played a particular sport and stopped during puberty because they found other things more important, pick it up again as adults. This undoubtedly applies to cultural activities as well.”

Tips for other municipalities

"Focus on collaboration," says Jenneke. "Look locally at what's needed to optimize that collaboration. Cultuur@CruyffCourts is a great way to achieve that. Don't see it as a project to do fun things for children; look more broadly. Use it for structure, to build a network. This way, it contributes to getting to know each other and creating easy contact between professionals and families. A project like this is more than just introducing people to culture; it's also about building a close-knit neighborhood where everyone knows each other and collaborates."

More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts

www.cultuurcruyffcourts.nl

Also read:
Councillor Irma van der Sloot: 'Sports and culture ensure prevention'

Social workers Michel and Juliëtte: 'A seed has been planted'

Irma van der Sloot is an alderwoman in Kampen and is responsible for culture, among other things. Kampen is one of 14 cities that launched Cultuur@CruyffCourts in 2019. This collaboration between the Youth Fund for Sport & Culture and the Johan Cruyff Foundation organizes cultural and creative activities on Cruyff Courts in underprivileged neighborhoods. What was the added value of Cultuur@CruyffCourts for her?

"Culture@CruyffCourts definitely added value," says Irma van der Sloot. "A lot of people came, and it introduced them to art and culture in an accessible way. Many amateur arts groups were involved through our local arts education center, Quintus, and everyone was incredibly enthusiastic. Both the groups and the participants. It really lowered the barrier to entry into culture."

People come into contact with each other

"It's important that these kinds of things happen in the neighborhood," says the alderman. "People connect with each other and with different cultural forms. Normally, the Cruyff Courts are primarily sports events, but now the focus is on culture, which naturally created a good mix of sports and culture. There's always a certain atmosphere surrounding art and culture. But art can be very accessible; it's for everyone. The Cultuur@CruyffCourts project proves that."

Prevention is better than cure

Irma van der Sloot: “Everyone should be able to participate in culture. This is also true within the framework of social policy. Prevention is better than cure. Sports and culture provide prevention and keep people engaged. Kampen has a significant group of low-income families. It's especially important for this group that their children can still participate. We strongly encourage this. That's why I'm so pleased with a project like Cultuur@CruyffCourts.”

More about Cultuur@CruyffCourts

www.cultuurcruyffcourts.nl

Also read:
Jenneke Bos (JOGG): 'Culture@CruyffCourts is more than just fun activities'

Social workers Michel and Juliëtte: 'A seed has been planted'