In Brabant, everyone should be able to play sports and be active, even if there are financial worries at home. Therefore, Brabant sports clubs, community centers, and other organizations can apply for support starting October 9 for projects that get and keep residents of vulnerable neighborhoods involved in sports.
With this special edition of the program From Good to Gold, the Province of North Brabant and the BrabantSport Fund support projects that give everyone the chance to play sports and be active. The initiative aligns with the Poverty Week taking place from October 6 to 10.
Under the guidance of two-time world champion groundmoves Nasser El Jackson, young people will discover freestyle street football, among other things.
If a child stands on the sidelines because there is no money for sports at home, that hurts, says deputy Bas Maes (Culture, Heritage, Sports & Recreation). Sports are not only healthy, they also provide self-confidence, structure, and connection. Every child deserves that. We see that in some neighborhoods, sports participation is much lower, especially in families where financial worries play a role.
Poverty
In North Brabant, 3 percent of youth live in poverty, according to recent figures from the CBS. This means that over 20,000 Brabant children under 18 grow up in families where participation in sports is not a given. The report Behavior and Poverty from the Knowledge Center for Sports & Movement also shows that a quarter of people in poverty have never played sports. Although there are schemes in place, a large part of the target group does not make use of them. As a result, many children literally remain on the sidelines.
Lasting Impact in the Neighborhood
About ten projects will be selected from all submissions to receive funding. This contribution is a maximum of €20,000 per project and may cover up to half of the total project budget. A condition is that the project has a lasting impact: the approach must continue after the end of an agreed period and be applicable elsewhere.
Inspiring Examples
Previous projects from From Good to Gold show what is possible:
Skills of Nasser El Jackson
Through this project by two-time world champion groundmoves, young people discover freestyle street football and skills such as presenting and creative thinking.
Hockey Club Polaris
Enables children from families with fewer financial resources in Tilburg and surrounding areas to play hockey, including guidance and materials.
More than Money
In addition to financial support, the selected projects also receive guidance. The BrabantSport Fund connects organizations with relevant partners and shares knowledge. Collaboration is also present with the Youth Fund for Sports & Culture, Sports Service North Brabant, and other expertise organizations.
Project proposals can be submitted from October 9 to November 3 via the website of the BrabantSport Fund: www.brabantsportfonds.nl (refers to another website) Interested parties can also register for a webinar to be held on October 8.
