Budget coaches wanted for debt prevention!

Refugees often start their lives in the Netherlands from a very vulnerable income position. They have a minimum income and have no savings. They take out a loan to furnish the home, so they already start with a debt. In addition, refugees often do not make sufficient use of income support facilities to which they are entitled.

With the Euro-Wijzer project, the Council for Refugees wants to contribute to a better safety net for minimum-income refugees. This is done by guiding 5,000 refugees throughout the Netherlands in developing financial skills such as orderly home administration, dealing with digital payment transactions and learning to think ahead/plan expenditure patterns. We are looking for volunteers who want to become budget coaches for refugees who want to learn to be financially self-reliant.

As a budget coach you offer guidance to refugees, one on one or in groups. Together you make an inventory of what the learning wishes are. Initially, the volunteer budget coach and the refugee do a lot together, but eventually the refugee takes over the activities step by step.

To support the budget coaches, Nibud has developed a workbook specifically aimed at refugees, on which the budget coaches can work. The Council for Refugees offers the budget coach training to learn to work with this material.

What do we expect from a budget coach?

• Good communication skills;

• Interest in refugees;

• Being able to deal with low literacy/low educated refugees;

• Being able to keep an orderly administration;

• Be willing to participate in the training;

• Minimum commitment of 6 months;

• Minimum availability of a few hours per week.

• [Experience as a budget coach or affinity with the subject of debt prevention is an advantage]

What do we have to offer?

• Interesting and meaningful volunteer work

• Expert guidance

• Training in using Nibud workbook

• Internal training opportunities

• Contact with other cultures

• [possibly Travel and expense allowance]