UEFA's social responsibility

UEFA's Executive Committee has approved a new UEFA Social Responsibility partnership portfolio for the 2007-2011 period.

Core partnerships
The portfolio, given the green light at the Executive Committee's meeting in Istanbul, provides for a number of core partnerships with trusted partners as well as new organisations that UEFA will help to spread essential messages and give vital support.

UEFA's role
Through its preservation of widespread popular access to football, the European football family contributes significantly to health and social cohesion in Europe. UEFA enhances and builds upon this role with its own help for activities that, in particular, address social issues connected to football.

Football and society
The UEFA social responsibility programme is aimed at strengthening the health and integrity of both football and society as a whole. UEFA's motto is "We Care About Football" – but European football's governing body cares about much more than just the game.

Specific issues
UEFA has set up partnerships with organisations addressing specific issues – including racism, reconciliation and peace, football for all, violence and humanitarian aid. It also makes ad hoc contributions and awards a deserving body its annual CHF one million charity cheque at the Monaco events that kick off each European club competition season.

Long-standing partnership
A long-standing partnership is being maintained with Special Olympics Europe Eurasia (SOEE), which promotes football for players with learning disabilities. Other long-term partners are on board – the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) network campaigning against the evil of racism in football, and the Cross Cultures Projects Association (CCPA), which promotes tolerance and social cohesion by the playing of football in grassroots schools for children from conflicting population groups in south-eastern Europe and the Caucasus.

New partners
New partners for 2007-11 are Terre des hommes (Tdh), which works in eastern Europe against child exploitation and trafficking; Education 4 Peace, a programme targeting schoolchildren and fan clubs on the theme "Master Your Emotions", contributing to less violence in society; and the World Heart Federation (WHF) which promotes healthy, active lifestyles to prevent obesity and cardiovascular disease. UEFA gave full support to the recent WHF World Heart day (click here).

Ad hoc donations
UEFA also makes ad hoc donations. A fine example of this came when UEFA agreed to donate CHF one million to the Hellenic Football Federation to help finance the rebuilding of football facilities damaged by recent fires in Greece.

EURO ICRC bond
Furthermore, successful partnerships have been set up for EURO final rounds with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). In Portugal, for example, the two bodies joined forces to highlight the plight of children in war, and the partnership is back in business for next year's UEFA EURO 2008™ in Austria and Switzerland.