More than 250 attendees share knowledge at 15th EFDN Conference
Host Rivkah op het Veld, EFDN CEO Hubert Rovers and Membership & Partnership Manager Robert Maaskant welcomed all attendees to the 2nd day of the 15th EFDN Conference. After a small recap of the successful first day, the 1% Fair Share Initiative was presented. This is an initiative where football players would pledge 1% of their collective income to the local CSR activities of the clubs, leagues and FA’s. There are already several players who support their club foundations to support impactful initiatives.
The delegates from more than 150 clubs, leagues and FAs joined engaging roundtables on the topics Social Inclusion, Employability, Health, Education and Environmental Sustainability.
The presentation from Liz Bowie (Aberdeen FC Community Trust) focused on the goals and achievements of AFCCT such as working extensively in education, supporting children and their families in both primary and secondary schools working to bridge the poverty attainment gap. AFCCT also brings a specialised approach to young people who are challenged in traditional educational settings by working in alternative academies. Their Mindset programme is a real best practice.
Nikita Filipov introduced Shakhtar Social Foundation. The main focus of the Foundation is helping kids with special needs, promoting gender equality within the award winning ‘Come On, Let’s Play’ programme. The presentation also focused on the social impact of the programme and the influence the pandemic has had and how they have adapted to it.
Jacon Naish, Purpose Lead of FC Nordsjælland hold an interesting presentation on the way brands, fans, clubs and technology are all descending on the idea of ‘Purpose’.
Karin Blankenstein and Stephan Hakkers presented the impressive work and achievements of the John Blankenstein Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to making sure that LGBTQ+ people are accepted in sports. The foundation was established in in 2008 and has now multiple staff members and almost 20 volunteers.
Warren Hawke, interim CEO at SPFL Trust gave us an interesting talk on the activities they have delivered and supported and funded in the last months. Activities included anything from walking groups to food parcels as well as companionship phone calls to digital learning tools for the children.
ForeverGreen is an initiative from Real Betis which focuses on promoting the use of transport in a more eco-friendly, and to offer fans alternatives when travelling. ForeverGreen uses the power of football to help saving the planet. Rafael Muela Pastor highlighted the first actions within the programme and explained how other clubs could initiate similar initiatives.
Eduardo Zamarripa, Soccer Market Manager at Musco Lighting, concluded the 15th EFDN Conference with his presentation on their Mini-Pitch initiative. The Mini-Pitch initiative aims to take unused space, and creating an area where children have a place where they can play. Essentially a ‘mini-football stadium’ is created that helps connect a community through recreation. Clubs, leagues and FAs can apply for the More than Football Award and win such a Mini-Pitch-System.
