Helping out through Zoetermeer

You can register to help in the emergency shelter via www.zoetermeervoorelkaar.nl | Refugee Support .

There are 2 types of volunteer work you can help with:

• Weekly/monthly recurring
  Usually there is a need for help with computer and language lessons and with leisure activities. These are often permanent activities (multiple and at fixed times). Volunteers who come to help regularly receive a volunteer contract from the COA. They then become a 'COA volunteer'. This means that you receive a travel allowance, must show a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) and must adhere to the COA code of conduct.
• One time or a few times
  There is also often room for support for activities that take place once or a few times, such as an activity for children, a sports day or a social gathering for all residents. For this it is not necessary to officially become a 'COA volunteer'.

Some of the residents of the reception centre in Zoetermeer already have a residence permit (status holders) and/or have been living in the Netherlands for some time. They already have clothing, care products, telephones, computers and other items to provide for their livelihood. The residents receive living and pocket money from the COA to be able to do their shopping. They cook their own food.

In addition, there is not much space in the rooms and on the location to store a lot of stuff. Too much stuff can cause unsafe situations, because they get in the way in emergency situations, for example.

In general, the following items are not necessary:

1. Food and drink
   Residents buy this themselves
2. Household goods and toys
   The COA furnishes the location with everything needed to live and work there comfortably; many residents already have their own household goods and toys.
3. Clothing
   Residents generally have sufficient clothing

Finally, the COA indicates that it finds it important that all residents are treated equally. This means that the COA only accepts items for all residents and not just for a few residents or just residents with a certain background. For example, think of a ping-pong table for the recreation room that everyone can use. But the COA does not need one winter coat or one child's bicycle; they would then have to choose which of the 630 people gets it and they cannot make that choice.

If you still want to give food/clothing/stuff; please do this at the local food bank, clothing bank or thrift store. If the COA still needs any of these items, they will knock on their door.

For more information, see www.coa.nl | Volunteer work and donations .

Since the start of the plans for a shelter, a consultation has been started between employees of the COA, employees of the municipality and representatives from the neighborhood. This group, also called 'commission' wants to contribute to a good relationship between the residents of the shelter location and the residents.

The members are:

• several representatives of the municipality (for example district manager/district director)
• some representatives of the police
• some local residents
• and the location manager of the COA

The committee initially met once every three weeks. The first time was before the shelter was put into use. The committee makes agreements with each other about how often they meet.