Pro League proposes Football & Social Responsibility Policy Plan

Pro League proposes Football & Social Responsibility Policy Plan

The Pro League‘s Football & Social Responsibility policy plan was presented yesterday at the KAA Gent Arena. Over the next 3 years, the Pro League is committed to inclusion, equality, accessibility, wellbeing and health and environmental sustainability; football for all, accessible stadiums, healthy lifestyles and sustainable clubs and competitions.

“Today we clearly express our ambition as a social engine. For the 50,000 participants in our social projects, for our 3 million fans and for 11 million inhabitants of our country, professional football goes for strong social policies. With this plan, we want to join forces with policy, social organisations, commercial partners and, of course, our clubs and fans. Together for a stronger social policy at local, regional and national level!”

Lorin Parys

In front of a full house, partners and participants alike brought to life the added value of football’s social impact and the spearheads of the Pro League’s social commitment were presented in several panel discussions.

Five pillars

Over the next 3 years, the Pro League will focus on 5 substantive pillars: inclusion, equality, accessibility, wellbeing and health and environmental sustainability; football for all, accessible stadiums, healthy lifestyles and sustainable clubs and competitions. These pillars were presented by several panels in which partners, clubs, policymakers as well as project participants told their experiences or vision.

Ilse Tips, coordinator of KVC Westerlo’s G-football operation, told how her son was able to blossom as a child thanks to the specific operation and how the self-confidence he gained in the G-football operation enabled him to work as a coach in the Westel G-activity.

Strong partnerships

The five substantive pillars of the social policy are completed by 2 additional objectives: “together with the clubs” and “together with the supporters”. The importance of these 2 objectives was underlined by the clubs present, as Wim Beelaert, coordinator of the KAA Gent Foundation and host of the show pointed out.

“The focus of social work in professional football is at the local level. That’s where the impact is greatest. We are pleased that the Pro League is committed to strengthening local workings, the link with fans and building collaborations with local authorities.”

Wim Beelaert, coordinator of the KAA Gent Foundation

Another strong content partnership was announced ahead of the show, with the collaboration between the Pro League and Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen. Over the next three years, Football Memories working groups will be set up at the clubs, peers’ groups where individuals with dementia will work on stories about their favourite sport and team. Memory bags will also be created that can be loaned out. “Through the commitment and cooperation of clubs and staff of the Alzheimer’s League, persons with dementia are once again becoming more and more complete human beings. The value of this for the person with dementia and for the informal carers, cannot possibly be overestimated,” Jef Pelgrims, president of Alzheimer Liga Vlaanderen excitedly announced the cooperation.

Working towards a strong partnership between football and policy

From the best practice that Ghent Alderman Sofie Bracke cited with the cooperation between the KAA Gent Foundation and the City of Ghent and Lorin Parys’ announcement that the Pro League is preparing a social contract ahead of the 2024 elections, Minister Caroline Gennez (Vooruit), Alderman Sofie Bracke (Open VLD) and Jean-Michel Javaux (Ecolo) all underlined the potential of a strong cooperation between professional football and politics, at all levels and the opportunity of a renewed and sustainable relationship between football and politics.