Municipal subsidy ‘Living Together, Living Healthy’ promotes movement and connection

Sjoerd-Jan received funding from the municipality through the ‘Living Together, Living Healthy’ subsidy, allowing him to expand his initiative. This subsidy is intended for small projects that contribute to a pleasant and healthy neighborhood.

‘Living Together, Living Healthy’ Subsidy

Sjoerd-Jan heard about the ‘Living Together, Living Healthy’ subsidy from the Municipality of Leeuwarden through a friend. Residents of Leeuwarden can apply for the subsidy on the municipality’s website. The subsidy can be granted if it concerns a project or idea involving a large group of neighborhood residents. It is also important that it helps make the neighborhood nicer or helps people live healthier.

Thanks to the municipal subsidy, Sjoerd-Jan can buy new materials such as tennis rackets and balls. He can also make flyers and organize a few tournaments in the summer. “I was pleasantly surprised to receive the subsidy. It gave me extra motivation to continue giving tennis lessons,” he says.

Tennis Lessons for Everyone

In the summer of 2023, Sjoerd-Jan started ‘Street Tennis Pro’. “I saw that many people from Ukraine in Leeuwarden had little to do. Then I thought: they can also join the tennis lessons,” he says enthusiastically. He went to a shelter location, put up posters in Ukrainian, and offered to pick people up and bring them to the tennis court. The news spread quickly, and more and more people from the shelter joined. Not only people from the Ukraine shelter join the tennis lessons, but also other residents of Leeuwarden. Every Saturday, he stands with an average of eight residents on the court.

More Than a Game

Aldermen Nathalie Kramers (Health) and Gijs Jacobse (Social Basis): “With the ‘Living Together, Living Healthy’ subsidy, we support initiatives that bring people together and encourage movement in the neighborhood. This way, we make the neighborhood more livable and ensure that people meet each other more easily. Together we build a healthy and strong community where everyone feels welcome.”

“Tennis has helped me enormously to get back on track and stay there,” says Sjoerd-Jan. After a difficult time, he started playing tennis again because he used to play often. “I noticed that tennis is much more than a game. You learn to deal with frustrations, think ahead, and your self-confidence grows. That also helps in daily life,” he explains. “Tennis has brought me a lot, and I want to share that with others. That is why I am very happy with the subsidy. With the money from the subsidy, I can ensure that I can continue giving lessons.”

Got a Good Idea or Project? Apply for the Subsidy!

Would you like to make your neighborhood nicer by, for example, cleaning up litter together? Or would you like to start a walking club with your neighbors to get more exercise? Or do you have another good idea or project? More information can be found on the website of the Municipality of Leeuwarden.