Discover a few of the speakers at the 18th EFDN #Morethanfootball Conference

Discover a few of the speakers at the 18th EFDN #Morethanfootball Conference

The European Football for Development Network (EFDN) will host its 18th EFDN Conference from the 14th until the 16th of November 2022 in Budapest, Hungary. The topic of this EFDN Conference will be “Sustainability and Human Rights”, which will take place at the Groupama Arena, the stadium of EFDN Member Ferenvárosi TC.

EFDN Conferences bring a unique opportunity for CSR experts and newcomers into the CSR world to learn from each other and share their insights about topics such as fundraising in CSR, environmental sustainability, anti-discrimination, social inclusion, online safeguarding, physical activity in younger and older population, or STEM education, among others. The format of the conference includes panels, breakout sessions, study visits and roundtables, and offers multiple chances to network and connect with other EFDN members and experts in the CSR in football.

This news article will give you an impression of some more of the knowledgeable and competent speakers in the fields of sustainability and human rights within football who we have contacted to share their expertise with you:

Espen Lindmark and Svein Helge Liknes are speaking on behalf of Stabæk and Vålerenga during a breakout session at the 18th EFDN #morethanfootball conference in Budapest from the 14th-16th of November.

Svein has over 10 years of working experience in the sport- and football industry. He worked with CSR-programs in Vålerenga Fotball since 2014. He had a one year leave from Vålerenga Fotball in 2017 to work for The Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports with sports and developent through sports in Malawi. Svein is ducated in sports development and sports management.

Espen sent 20 years in different finance and marketing companies. From 1976 to 2010,  he was a football coach on different levels in both women and men’s football. He worked over 10 years in Stabæk Football, before full time employee, – two years in the board.  Established the street team in Stabæk 2013, still manager for the activity. One of the iniators establishing the foundation called Fotballstiftelsen in 2015.

Their breakout session is titled: Recovery on the Pitch – The Norwegian Street Football Program. They will present a program using football as a tool to include people facing drug challenges. The talk will provide insight into experiences and knowledge gained over 10 years of practice. The Streetfootball program is a social innovation in the Norwegian society with positive inpact on the player’s empowerment and recovery process. The program has through the last 10 years developed to be the lagerst and most sucessfull CSR-program in Norwegain sports industry. During the presentation we will also showcase how the program is runned by Vålerenga Fotball, one of 28 different top league clubs in Norway that runs the program.

Sharon Dale and Luke Wilkinson are speaking on behalf of the Derby County Community Trust during a breakout session at the 18th EFDN #morethanfootball conference in Budapest from the 14th-16th of November.

Sharon Dale has been the Health Manager at Derby County Community Trust for the past 13 years. Her background was in Public Health, working in local community settings to address health inequalities.
The nature of projects which she delivers focus on the social detriments of health, and her team work innovatively to provide programmes which take an alternative route to engage people in physical activity. Most recently, Sharon’s portfolio of projects has grown to encompass supporting those living with long-term conditions, working largely in targeted areas of deprivation to provide an equitable service. The recent publication of the Trust’s Health Strategy has identified emerging priorities: supporting participants experiencing the menopause; those living with long Covid; and the creation of a green gym through our existing allotment project.

Luke Wilkinson has worked for Derby County Community Trust for 18 years in a variety of roles, but in 2011 he moved over to their health department to focus on a new programme for the city. Since then his knowledge and skills have excelled within engaging adults with Mental health, long term conditions and older people to help them increase social skills and also help incease their phsycial activity. 

The presentation that Sharon Dale and Luke Wilkinson will be giving will be presenting mental wellbeing for both adults and children. They will cover how the Derby County Community Trust has engaged the target audiences and what delivery model they have used to engage and maintain their attendance. Finally they will go through the data showing the impact this has had on attendees.