First League of Ireland Football & Social Responsibility Conference
On Thursday 4 April, the Grand Hotel in Malahide hosted the first League of Ireland “More than Football” Football & Social Responsibility Conference.
The event attracted a large audience which included representatives from a wide range of agencies including League of Ireland Clubs, several Government Departments, Healthy Ireland, Local Authorities, Academic institutions, An Garda Siochana, and Sport Ireland while representatives from the UNHCR, the Immigrant Council of Ireland and the UK Embassy were also in attendance.
Guests had the opportunity to experience a variety of excellent presentations on innovative programmes focussed on health and well-being, social inclusion, education, employability and climate action as well as hearing about the work of the European Football for Development Network and more locally, the social impact that Bohemian FC is having in their community.
The topics of social impact partnerships and social outcome contracts were also discussed as an alternative and innovative funding mechanism for outcomes based FSR work.
A big highlight of the show was undoubtedly Liverpool FC legend, John Barnes, author of the book, “The Uncomfortable Truth About Racism”.
John tackled the issues surrounding prejudice head-on with his trademark intelligence and authority and was in sparkling form as he impressed the audience by confidently addressing a variety of questions and comments on racism in an articulate and thoughtful fashion which left conference guests with a lot to think about.
LOI Football & Social Responsibility manager Derek O’Neill said: “This was the LOI Department’s first major Football & Social Responsibility Conference and I think it’s provided food for thought for people from the wide range of organisations who attended. The key message resonating today was that partnerships are essential if LOI Football clubs are to play a significant role in social and environmental sustainability especially in their local communities. LOI Football Clubs can be a vehicle to promote social good and this conference provided an opportunity to bring the clubs and a very broad selection of agencies together in the same room for the first time to highlight opportunities to cooperate on shared objectives”.
The Conference was delivered as part of the FAI’s involvement as a partner in the European Football for Development’s “More than Football” Networks project which is funded by the European Union.
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