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The charity has seen an “explosion” in the number of parents seeking help to school their children and buy clothing, Parool reports.
Stichting Riegert Amsterdam, which helps parents with low disposable income with school-related expenses, told the newspaper that it had received thousands of requests, including the median income from parents.
“The numbers have increased, especially in the last few months,” manager Carolien de Jong was quoted as saying. “But we are extra, so they come to us only if people are not eligible for minimum wage-focused local government assistance. I’m looking at disposable income.
Bodies have helped their parents with money for plimsolls and clothes for gym lessons, bikes, laptops and books to get to school. You are expected to pay for some of your own textbooks and calculators for use in class.
A spokesperson for the Amsterdam city council told Parool that there has been an increase in applications for help with school fees and that the Jeugdeducatiefonds charity is particularly concerned about the “new poor”.
Primary and secondary schools told the newspaper they were concerned that households would be affected by inflation and soaring energy costs.
Maryse Knook, head of the Open Schoolgemeenschap Bilmer school group, said many families were unable to pay for “voluntary” school contributions of around €100 a year. “There are fewer and fewer parents who can afford this,” she was quoted as saying. “I think the group will be bigger this year.”
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