#Morethanfootball all across Europe
During the course of the last week, the #Morethanfootball Action Week has been celebrating the work that the European Football community is delivering off the pitch in their local communities.
Across Europe, we had the great pleasure to experience a week devoted to showcasing, how the power of football can change lives for the better.
During the week -long campaign, from 30th of March until 9th of April, organisations were hosting events aiming at demonstrating the social impact of community projects across the Football industry.
Overall, we are proud to communicate that in total, 84 organisations from 28 countries took part in the #Morethanfootball campaign. Involved have been European football clubs, foundations, community trusts, Leagues and FA’s.
We would like to thank all these involved organisations for their effort and commitment.
This year’s campaign has been a great basis for the following #Morethanfootball Action Week campaigns and other future initiatives focusing on CSR and sustainability in Sport.
Below, we would like to highlight some inspiring activities and events, which were hosted during the #Morethanfootball Action Week.
Some Highlights of the Week
The Royal Belgian Football Association organised, in collaboration with ACFF and Brussels Football, the first Handifoot Festival in Belgium. Disabled children, teenagers and adults could enjoy playing football accompanied by professional coaches.
The Big Heart Community Trust official charity from Midlothian FC, organised among others on 7th of April a Kinship Care Fostering Compassion Afternoon. Providing the children and carers with an opportunity to enjoy a day out at the farm.
The UEFA Foundation for Children showcased the projects, which they are supporting all over the world and therewith provided an impression of the immense impact sport and football can have for bringing about social change.
SV Werder Bremen delivered the “Young Coach Education Programme” during the Action Week. Young athletes, with and without a disability, are given the opportunity to become coaches to then be able to actively support the disability groups of the clubs. The club also joined a Network meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where the impact of football as a tool for social integration of refugees was thematised.
The Foundation of l’Olympique de Marseille launched their third OM endowment Fund call for applicants. Yearly, the foundation encourages associations and charities to present a project that they would like to realise. A chosen project will receive 5000 Euro.
Inter Campus, PAOK, Club Brugge, FK Vadar, Apollon Limassol, Galatasaray SK and Shakhtar Donetsk showed their commitment to the Action Week in form of organising #Morethanfootball Activities at their home games including LED boarding and #Morethanfootball banner.
KAA Gent participated during the Action Week in the ‘Day against Homophobia and Transphobia’, supporters with disabilities were accompanied to the Ghelamco Arena and among others, a Fair-Play Workshop was organised.
Vitesse Arnhem and N.E.C Nijmegen kicked-off the Action Week with a Walking Football tournament.
PAOK welcomes Syrian refugees in the stadium during a home match.
Ferencvarosí Torna Club launched during the #Morethanfootball Action Week the Fair Play Committee and Award, which are based on the club’s motto: Morality, Strength and Unity.
