From March 1, 2026, more residents can apply to the Adult Fund for Sports and Culture. This decision was made by the municipal executive board. From that moment, all Almere residents with an income up to 130 percent of the social assistance standard can use the fund.
The Adult Fund has helped residents with limited financial means participate in sports or cultural activities such as music lessons, dance, or sports clubs since 2022. The new approach makes the fund simpler and fairer. For 2026, 20ac221,500 is available. The scheme operates on a first-come, first-served basis, meaning no new applications are possible once the funds are depleted.
Alderman Paul Tang (Work and Income, Poverty and Debt): Sports and culture bring people together. Whether its playing football at a club, joining a dance class, or making music in a community center – it provides joy, confidence, and social contact. Especially if you have financial worries, it is important to keep participating. With this change, we make the fund clearer and more accessible. This way, more Almere residents can play sports, meet new people, and contribute to a strong and connected city.
In 2024, the fund was only accessible to residents with a municipal health insurance policy due to limited funds. In practice, this restriction did not work well. Money remained unused while organizations in the city indicated more residents needed help. Also, the scheme was difficult to explain. Residents with low incomes without a municipal policy could not use the fund.
Currently, 5.2 percent of the 3,328 adults with a municipal policy use the fund. By opening the fund to all residents up to 130 percent of the social minimum, approximately 850 additional applications are expected. The funds money comes from the national government. This temporary scheme runs until the end of 2026, meaning the fund will end without extra funding afterward. The experiences in 2026 will be considered when making new plans and budgets for the coming years.