Several foundations for children in poverty are seeing a growing number of applications this year. This is apparent from a tour of NU.nl. This concerns applications for, for example, free school supplies, a bicycle and swimming lessons. If this increase in the number of applications continues, the foundations themselves will run into money problems.
In the first half of 2022, Stichting Leergeld received more than 200,000 requests for help, a spokesperson said. “A strong growth. This is an increase of 39 percent compared to 2021, and an increase of 26 percent compared to pre-corona year 2019.”
Stichting Leergeld helps children from families with money worries. According to the foundation, these are also families with one or two working parents. The foundation wants to contribute to the development of children by, for example, financing membership of a scouting club, school trips and sports equipment. Families can also request items such as a laptop for homework.
The Jarige Job Foundation, which gives away birthday boxes to children in poverty, is also seeing an increasing number of applications this year. Their birthday box includes decorations, treats and a gift.
“We expect about 100,000 applications this year, compared to 80,000 last year,” says a spokesperson. An increase of 15 percent, of which part of the extra applications has already been received. Through other aid organizations such as food banks, the foundation hears that more families are on the way.
‘Never experienced such a sharp rise’
The Poverty Fund Foundation has also seen an increase in the number of applications for the Schoolspullenpas, three years in a row now. With the pass, children can buy items such as a calculator, sportswear and a backpack for fifty euros.
For the 2021-2022 school year, the foundation received 16,290 applications for the pass. For next year, the number of applications will be about 14 percent higher. In the past two years, around 3,000 to 4,000 children ended up on a waiting list, just like this year.
The National Fund for Children’s Aid Foundation sees a doubling in the number of applications since the corona pandemic broke out in the spring of 2020. “We have never experienced such a sharp increase,” says a spokesperson. The foundation helps families with, among other things, a free children’s bicycle and a holiday fun package.
Inflation also affects working parents
It may be that people in poverty can find the foundations better than before, say the spokespersons for Jarige Job, Leergeld and Poverty Fund. But all foundations emphasize that inflation and the rise in energy prices play a role. “Our most obvious explanation is that more and more families are experiencing financial problems,” says the spokesperson for Stichting Leergeld.
The Leergeld Foundation has seen for years that money worries also affect families with one or two working parents. The spokesperson for Jarige Job agrees: “We see a lot of people who were just able to get by before. Now they have lost a few tens extra a month due to higher energy costs and that expenditure is just too much. Those families can’t do it. more strongholds,” explains the spokesman.
Kinderhulp also sees an increase because more is possible after the corona period. This year, the foundation is mainly receiving more requests for free swimming lessons. “Probably because swimming lessons are finally allowed again after the corona time,” says the spokesperson.
Donors now also keep their hands on the cut
The increase in applications is not yet causing problems everywhere. For example, the Poverty Fund is recruiting more and more donors to keep up with the growing number of applications. At Jarige Job, the income is stable, according to the spokesperson.
At Stichting Leergeld, a number of local foundations have announced that the end of the financial resources is in sight if this increase continues. These include Amsterdam, Rotterdam and the Parkstad region in Limburg.
Stichting Nationaal Fonds Kinderhulp sees a decrease in donations of 10 to 15 percent compared to last year. “Donors are also keeping their hand on the purse strings because their costs are rising,” explains the spokesperson.
The foundation has to be creative with the available budget. “We do not want to sell the children no. This group has been told no so often,” says the spokesperson. That is why, for example, they are reducing the budget for a new bicycle from 150 euros to 125 euros.
“As it stands now, we can accommodate any request.” But about the future, the spokesperson says: “It doesn’t look good.”
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