EFDN Staff Exchange- Life Skills through Football

EFDN Staff Exchange – Life Skills through Football

EFDN’s 1^st Staff Exchange of 2017 kicked off during Monday 13^th to the Friday 17^th February. This exchange programme focused on “Life Skills Through Football”. The event was attended by 9 different football clubs from five different countries including EFDN. Clubs included our host Vitesse Arnhem, SV Werder Bremen, KAA Gent, Club Brugge, Fulham FC, Everton FC, Greenock Morton, Montrose FC and Aberdeen FC. The staff exchange to place at the Iconic National Sports Centre of the Netherlands in Papendal, which created an incredible setting for learning and engagement.

During the week, participants were provided with diverse opportunities to share their experiences on the clubs individual community and social programmes. Through theparticipation in diverse workshops and non- formal learning-activities, the representatives from the different European football clubs were able to further develop individual competences and broaden their horizon with regard to CSR programmes focusing on the development of life skills through sports.

Prior to the programme, each club had to prepare content and practical and theoretical presentations. This is a core element of the schedule, which provides a platform for stimulating an environment of sharing best practice, methods and ideas. The discussions resulting from the presentations led to a continuous process of reflecting the quality and diversity of the existing social programmes and led to joint reflection on new project concepts. The exchange programme also provided the opportunity for participants to have a study visit which involved accessing a pioneering programme of Vitesse Arnhem.

The local youth employability programme “Vitesse Werkt!” provided great value for the group and was able highlight how life skills are being developed through using football and sport, which provided the participants from across Europe with inspiring ideas of how to teach young people life and employment skills and how to assist them with finding a job through sport based community projects.

Overall, the Staff Exchange brought together 20 participants, 9 Clubs and 5 Countries who share the belief that football can have a substantial impact on the community. Through a week of sharing best practice, own experiences and knowledge many new programme ideas regarding the involvement of young people in the communities could be developed. Aberdeen FC Community Trust stated that their staff members returned “full of enthusiasm and a desire to change the world”.

With great thanks to Vitesse Arnhem for hosting the Staff Exchange and the organisational effort. The Staff Exchange programme is co-founded by the National Erasmus Agencies.