EFDN Highlights: February 2020
As 2020 comes to an end, EFDN invites you to look back on this year’s top activities, projects and news stories. Take a look at some highlights from February.
World Cancer Day
February 4th is recognised as World Cancer Day, a day to raise awareness on cancer and encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. For the occasion, EFDN sent a message of support and encouragement to all those suffering for cancer and took the opportunity to present some of the initiatives carried out by member clubs to promote cancer awareness and recovery. See how the Network does this below.
- Notts County FC in the Community: Cancer and Rehabilitation Exercise (CARE)
- BSC Young Boys: Arche Fonds
- Mainz 05: Football Fans in Training
- FC Red Bull Salzburg: Hospital Visits
- IF Elfsborg: We Together
SIDFOOT Project Meeting
On February 11th, partners from six European countries met at the Rat Verlegh Stadion of NAC Breda for the first SIDFOOT project meeting. This project’s primary objective is to promote physical activity and social inclusion in disconnected neighborhoods through sport. Participants had the chance to further develop the SIDFOOT methodology to collect and share best practices. They also discussed communication and dissemination strategies, administrative elements and next steps of the programme.
ActivU Kick-Off Meeting in Porto
EFDN attended the ActivU kick-off seminar in Porto, Portugal, on the 11th and 12th of February. The meeting was a great setting for all programme partners to get to know each other, discuss work packages, assign roles and responsibilities and propose future research methods to continue the programme’s success. ActivU aims to reach citizens all around Europe: Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Croatia, Serbia, Sweden and The Netherlands.
World Day of Social Justice
The World Day of Social Justice falls on the 20th of February and was established to promote the importance of social justice – tackling issues such as poverty, exclusion, unemployment, human rights and social protections. It is a day about removing the barriers people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion or disability, which are at the core of EFDN and our members’ CSR programmes. On this day, EFDN was proud to showcase the work our members do to foster a more inclusive environment for all.
- IF Elfsborg: POINT Project
- FC Emmen: Getting Workfit
- Chelsea FC: Building Bridges
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb: Equality = The Only Choice
- Liverpool FC Foundation: Girls Football Project
- Shakhtar Social Foundation: FC Shakhtar Girls Team
- Newcastle United Foundation: Disability Football
- Burnley FC in the Community: The Danny Ings Disability Sport Project
Member News
Before their match against Leeds United on February 11th, Brentford FC Community Trust launched the recruitment of their National Citizen Service, a programme funded by the government to develop lifelong interpersonal and professional skills in 16- and 17-year-olds in the community.
Rangers FC’s Youth Squad directed their prize money from UEFA Youth League participation towards anti-sectarianism awareness workshops in Glasgow schools, reaching and visiting over 300 students.
On the 24th of February, Fundação Benfica hosted more than 400 children for the first ever Show Racism the Red Card Festival to celebrate the club’s fight against discrimination.
New Members
In February, EFDN welcomed new members ADO Den Haag, Real Sociedad Fundazioa, FC St. Pauli, Stabæk Fotball, the Swedish Professional Football League and the Portuguese Football Federation.
