Strømsgodset receives funding for community programme

Strømsgodset receives funding for community programme

Strømsgodset IF has received funding from the city council to further develop and strengthen the clubs work towards schools and sports teams in the city of Drammen. 

Local sport teams were invited this year by Drammen Sports Council to apply for funds to create new or further develop sport for social development programmes. The Norwegian Sports Association / Buskerud Sports Circuit, Drammen Sports Council, Drammen Municipality and Gjensidig Foundation contributed to the funding.

Strømsgodset IF has the aim to create active communities and contribute to the health and well-being of the people living in the Drammen area. Public and private institutions and volunteers in different districts work together to create safe and active villages where young people can grow up with a sense of belonging and unity.

Strømsgodset has already been involved in multiple initiatives and intend to create even more activities and sporting fun in the districts. The funding of 350,000 Norwegian kroner (about 35,000 Euros) from the city council will be used to further develop these activities. The schools and kindergartens in the district cooperate with Strømsgodset to create safe and fun sport opportunities after school hours.

The project leader for development and society at Strømsgodset IF, Lage Sofienlund, is very humble and happy that the club received the additional funding:

“For us at Strømsgodset Toppfotball, the funding is proof that we are being taken seriously as a real player in the development of society in Drammen. We are proud to have the opportunity to have a defined role in creating active communities. We are looking forward to reaching out in the different districts and to contribute even more to the local community development. This will be absolutely brilliant”, said Sofienlund.

Janne Hafskjold, inclusion consultant at the local sports council said: ”This is a historic moment as it is the first allocation of funds to active communities in Drammen. The projects that receive funds today are particularly exciting because they all have long term ambitions “.

New project manager for the active local communities

The club community manager Sofienlund was delighted to present Lars-Petter Eggen as the new person responsible for the programme. The 26-year-old is an educated teacher and has worked the last three years at the Brandengen school in Drammen. With his educational background and outgoing mentality Lars-Petter will strengthen and further develop the “Blåtimen” (Blue Hour) concept, which has now worked for two years with great success under the programme “Together, we build Drammen.” During this period the club organised 387 hours with coaches and players from Strømsgodset IF visiting schools, kindergartens, hospitals, primary schools, universities and clubs.

“I think it is very positive that i can take a lot of my experience as a teacher into this job. I know the school environment well and it’s exciting to get in there with Godset eyes. The blue hour is a fantastic programme and I think it’s completely gold to use the players as role models with great influence”, says Lars-Petter Eggen.