Nearly half of low-income families don’t take advantage of social funds for children

Nearly half (44%) of families with an income at or just above social security level do not take advantage of social funds that offer support for larger child-related expenses. Most of the parents in these families do have jobs but earn a low income. By not applying for such support, they’re missing an opportunity for their children to do things such as sports, take dancing lessons, celebrate their birthday or buy a bicycle.  

This is one of the findings of a recent survey by ABN AMRO and the Youth Sports & Culture Fund (Jeugdfonds Sport & Cultuur), in which a representative sample of parents on social security or in low-paid jobs were asked about the obstacles they experience around asking for help. According to the most recent figures published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS), 540,000 people in the Netherlands are living under the poverty line, while 1.2 million people have to make ends meet with an income just above this level and no financial reserves. A large percentage of this group may be eligible for support from social funds.  

Uncertainty and shame are key obstacles 

The main reason for families not to apply for support is that they’re uncertain whether they are eligible and what the requirements are (59%). Many families indicate that they put off applying for support for their child and try to get by without financial help for as long as possible (62%). 58 per cent of the parents think applying for support is “a big hassle”. Another reason they don’t take the trouble is that they’re afraid they may have to pay the money back later (55%). Besides uncertainty, shame about their financial situation is another major factor, discouraging 42 per cent of families from seeking help. People are reluctant to share information about their income (52%). They also find it hard to admit they need help (39%) and are afraid others will find out (31%). 

Families on benefits more likely to seek support 

Around 55 per cent of Dutch families who are eligible for financial support from funds actually take advantage of it. In this group, parents are more likely to be unemployed, jobseekers or recipients of social security or disability benefits. The foundations often approached by such parents are Stichting Leergeld (for tuition fees), the Youth Sports & Culture Fund and Stichting Jarige Job (for support to celebrate birthdays). An interesting finding is that once people have received support from one fund, the threshold is lower for them to apply for support from other social funds as well. The survey showed that 15 per cent of families have applied for support from two funds, and 19 per cent from three or more funds. 

Fair start for all children 

ABN AMRO and the Youth Sports & Culture Fund have joined forces to facilitate a fair start for all children, including those for whom this is not a given. Regular participation in sports and cultural activities gives a substantial boost to the physical, mental, social, and creative development of children and young people. So for years, ABN AMRO has been organising activities through ABN AMRO Foundation to introduce children from low-income families to sports and culture. The mission of the Youth Sports & Culture Fund aligns closely with this, as it pays the fees for children from families with limited financial resources, and also pays for any equipment and clothing they may need. 

Petra Bosman, Director of the Youth Sports & Culture Fund: “Demand for our support is growing every year, and it’s important for parents to know exactly when they can apply and what we can support them with. The results of this survey, carried out in cooperation with ABN AMRO, will enable us to further strengthen our process and our communication with parents, so that even more children can experience the joy of sports and culture. In this context, we recently developed Jeugdfondscheck, a simple online tool that parents can use to find out quickly whether they’re eligible for support from the fund. With initiatives like this, we hope to make our support more accessible and reduce uncertainty for parents.” 

Sander Bestevaar, Head of Partnerships, Events & Foundations at ABN AMRO: “ABN AMRO believes every child deserves a fair opportunity to discover what they enjoy, are passionate about, or have talent for, and we will continue our efforts to ensure that as many children as possible can participate in sports and cultural activities. The Youth Sports & Culture Fund is an important partner for us in our efforts to enable all children, including those for whom it is not a given, to participate in sports and culture.”