RESULTS 2018 cORPORATE SOCIAL Responsibility 1 / PREFACE 04 2 / Mission & vision 06 3 / CSR themes 09 4 / CSR projects 2018 10 4.1 Inclusion 10 4.1.1 UEFA-Hattrick: Niemand Buitenspel / Nobody Offside 12 4.1.2 LGBT+ in football 16 4.1.3 Everybody on the pitch 17 4.1.4 Belgian Homeless Cup – My Team - My Home! 22 4.1.5 Working group diversity in football 23 4.1.6 Conference: Football & Diversity 23 4.2 Children’s & Human Rights 24 4.2.1 Partnership Belgian Red Devils 24 4.2.2 Partnership Belgian Red Flames & Plan International Belgium 29 4.2.3 Tackling transgressive behaviour 30 4.3 Health 31 4.3.1 Smoke-free stadium 31 4.3.2 Stichting tegen Kanker 32 4.4 Sustainability 34 4.4.1 Project TACKLE 35 4.4.2 Project 2030 35 5/ Social office 36 6/ JO VANHECKE FUND 37

2 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 3 RBFA 1// PETER BOSSAERT - CEO RBFA MEHDI BAYAT - President RBFA Preface

The RBFA is aware of the fact that football can mean more than just the game on the pitch. Football has These partnerships help us with the structural elaboration of our projects and enabled us to appeal to a major added social value and helps achieving social objectives such as inclusion, promoting health, organisations with a lot of expertise relating to the four themes we are focusing on within the CSR policy sustainability and children’s & human rights. For the time being football still is one of the major sports plan. in Belgium and therefore has a very wide reach in all layers of society. In 2016 the RBFA decided to We invite you to go through this annual report and discover for yourself which social objectives we have create its own Corporate Social Responsibility department and a policy plan was elaborated with various achieved this year. You will notice that 2019 will bring a lot of new challenges where sustainability will be objectives for the period 2016-2020. a key factor.

We hereby proudly present the projects that we realized in 2018, together with our regional federations Voetbal Vlaanderen and ACFF. With these projects we reach various target groups such as people with Peter Bossaert Mehdi Bayat disabilities, LGB and transgender people, refugees & asylum seekers and children & adults in precarious CEO RBFA president RBFA living and home situations. We also entered into various sustainable partnerships with diverse social advisory organisations, public authorities and international umbrella associations.

4 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 5 RBFA 2// Mission & vision

The RBFA intends to assume its social responsibility by embedding Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects in its operational structure. Football can be a tool to help fulfil a number of social objectives. The RBFA is aware of the fact that it has to make active efforts so as for football to become more than just the sporting performances on the pitches. In order to develop sustainable and effective CSR projects the RBFA enters into partnerships with relevant partners. Each year the RBFA evaluates its CSR operation and uses these evaluation moments to adjust its policy and introduce innovations. Assuming our social responsibility is also part of the 11 point plan that was established by the RBFA RESPECT management. More in particular point 11 “Maximising the positive power of football and the social role of the RBFA in our society.” We do this in close cooperation with the regional federations, Voetbal Vlaanderen and l’Association des Clubs Francophones de Football. With respect to various projects the FAIR PLAY RBFA also cooperates with the CSR cell within the Pro League.

It is RBFA’s mission to ‘promote the values of respect, fair inclusion play, inclusion, health, sustainability and education in our society through football’. health

By 2020 we, as the biggest sports organisation of the country, intend to conduct a transparent and sustainability structurally embedded CSR policy focusing on the socially relevant questions linked to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations (SDGs). Together with Route 2030, a consultancy firm in sustainability and change management, we are now elaborating a new CSR policy for 2020 - 2024. Important in this respect is that this policy fits in with the needs and questions of internal and external stakeholders, provides a measurable positive contribution to social challenges and contains a number of well-defined substantive projects having a long-term impact.

6 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 7 RBFA 2018 3// CSR themes

Within the CSR policy of the RBFA we focus on four themes. Within these themes various projects are elaborated, each with their own specific objectives and corresponding action plan. When an organisation contacts the RBFA we always assess whether newly presented projects fall within the scope of the four pillars of the CSR policy.

01. 02. inclusion Children’s & Human Rights

03. 04. Health Sustainability

8 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 9 RBFA 2018 4// CSR projects 2018

In this section we present all the CSR projects that were realized in 2018, arranged per theme. We PARTNERS hereby focus on the objectives that have been achieved in 2018 and in addition offer a survey of the • Belgian Paralympic Committee various actions that contributed to achieving these objectives. • Parantee-Psylos • Proximus • football • Special Olympics Belgium • BMW • Féma • Voetbal Vlaanderen • GLS 4.1 Inclusion • G-Sport Vlaanderen • ACFF • Coca Cola

Inclusive football means that everyone, whatever may be his or her gender, skin colour, origin, ethnic • Ligue Handisport Francophone • Pro League • UEFA background, sexual orientation, marital status, social position, capital, age, beliefs/philosophies, political beliefs or trade union beliefs or language, can practise the sport in an open and safe environment. For the RBFA and its regional federations inclusion is very important and we want to help football clubs through LINKS specific actions to put this value into practice. Within this theme various projects have been elaborated ACFF: https://www.acff.be/ that intend to lower the thresholds for people who, for some specific reasons, find it less easy to practise their favourite sport. Belgian Blind Devils: https://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/nationale-ploegen/nationale-g-teams/belgian-blind-devils Belgian Deaf Devils: 4.1.1. UEFA-Hattrick : https://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/nationale-ploegen/nationale-g-teams/deaf-devils-belgium Niemand Buitenspel – Nobody Offside Belgian Paralympic Committee: https://www.paralympic.be/nl BMW: https://www.bmw.be/nl_BE/index.html The project entitled “Nobody Offside” intends to make people with disabilities Brussels Football: https://www.brusselsfootball.be/ (both intellectual and physical) play football, at their own rhythm and level. Coca Cola: https://nl.cocacolabelgium.be/ Together with our regional federations, various disability-sports partners, Féma: https://www.sportadapte.be/ commercial partners and UEFA various initiatives and tools have been elaborated that help disability football grow. The major objectives of this project are a growth GLS: https://gls-group.eu/BE/vl/home in the number of disability football teams in Belgium, development of specific G-sport Vlaanderen: https://www.gsportvlaanderen.be/ tools to help our football clubs and support and promote the national disability- Parantee-Psylos: http://www.parantee.be/parantee/index.asp teams. Pro League: http://www.proleague.be/ Below you will find the results and partners who contributed to this project. . Proximus: www.proximus.be Red Flamingos: https://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/nationale-ploegen/nationale-g-teams/red-flamingos Special Devils: https://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/nationale-ploegen/nationale-g-teams/special-devils Special Olympics Belgium: https://www.special-olympics.be/ UEFA: https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/social-responsibility/ Voetbal Vlaanderen: https://www.voetbalvlaanderen.be/

10 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 11 4.1 INCLUSION RBFA 2018

Working Group disability football in Flanders & Wallonia and Provincial working groups Both in Flanders and in Wallonia a working group disability football was created in 2016-2017 with representatives of the football federations and disability sport organisations. This working group helps us to further develop the disability football policy and is also a feedback organ for the organisation of various events and the development of tools for our clubs. Special Olympics, Parantee-Psylos & G-sport Vlaanderen are involved in the Flemish working group. In addition from every Flemish provincial working group a representative is present at Flemish working group meetings. Féma, Special Olympics and Ligue Handisport Francophone are part of the Walloon working group. Both working groups meet about twice a year; in addition there are work meetings throughout the year with the various disability sports partners depending on the disability football discipline. Voetbal Vlaanderen has a provincial working group disability football in every province. These working groups are responsible for the organization of the disability football competitions disability football in the spotlight and local disability football events. The disability football project will also be continued in 2019, in Flanders, Brussels and in Wallonia. Apart from the support from Proximus this project also gets UEFA support through UEFA Hattrick funding and Belgian football also invests communication around disability football own funds in disability football.

Personal support disability football in the spotlight

The last couple of years the regional federation Voetbal Vlaanderen strongly Since 2017 there is more focus on communication around disability football, i.e. focused on a personal guidance of football clubs wanting to start with a disability through communication channels such as Belgian Football, Voetbal Vlaanderen, football team. Every club that wanted to start with a disability football team, ACFF and Football Kick-Off. On the one hand we focus our communication on could address Voetbal Vlaanderen for extra information and, if necessary, a work the spreading of the various disability football tools and events. On the other meeting. In 2017-2018 in total 31 clubs were interested in starting up a disability hand we strongly focus on communication on the games and tournaments of football team. 16 clubs have already been visited by the club supporters from our national disability-teams. That is because they are important role models for Voetbal Vlaanderen. 18 clubs asked for more information through e-mail and current and future disability football players and also promote disability football in up to now already six new clubs have already effectively started up a disability all of its forms. football team. On Sunday 10 June 2018 Voetbal Vlaanderen also organized a disability football training day at FC Lebbeke. ACFF in its turn took some first steps in Wallonia and in Brussels to put disability football on the map with the French-speaking clubs. At this moment there are six disability football teams in Wallonia. Ten football clubs have been visited in 2017- 2018, showing interest in organizing a disability football activity in 2019.

12 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 13 4.1 INCLUSION RBFA 2018

Disability foot festivals The Football Kick-Off

Together with the regional federations in 2018 we organized various disability Every year, early September, we organize the Football Kick-Off together with foot festivals in Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia. These are low-threshold the regional federations and the Pro League. In 2018 the ninth edition of the disability football events that are open to everyone who is interested in disability FKO took place on Sunday 9 September 2018 at football club KSK Maldegem. football. Below you will find an overview of the various disability foot festivals More than 950 participants were present, representing 80 disability football that were organized in cooperation with a club by Voetbal Vlaanderen and teams in total. Apart from disability football for people with an intellectual Stichting Vlaamse Schoolsport. disability, also other activities were scheduled placing the other disability football disciplines in the spotlight, such as a CP-football tournament (cerebral palsy) for children and a demonstration match of Amputee football. Number of DATE Organisation Province Place participants Various elite referees undertook to referee the matches. In addition some trainers and players from professional football stopped by Disability-foot Ritterklub 08/05/2018 Brussels 100 festival Jette to encourage the disability football players. For example the entire team and staff of the U19 Belgian Red Devils stopped by. Our ambassador Piet Den 08/09/2018 Disability-foot Limburg FC Alken 110 festival Boer was once more the perfect host for this edition! 13/10/2018 Disability-foot East Flanders Divas KVK 8 festival Ninhove 29/11/2018 Disability-foot Flemish VC 49 Support national disability football teams festival Brabant WolfsdonkSport

Our national disability football teams officially recognized by the RBFA are: In 2018 in Wallonia and Brussels in total three disability foot festivals were organized, • Belgian Blind Devils a disability football tournament, an international friendly blind football tournament and a friendly international game of blind football. All of this in cooperation with ACFF, • Special Devils Brussels Football, Belgian Paralympic Committee, LHF and Féma. • Belgian Deaf Devils & Belgian Deaf Devils U21 • Red Flamingos ( Amputee voetbal) All of these teams can use the facilities of the Belgian Football Centre in Tubeke, Number of DATE Organisation Province Place participants free of charge, for their training sessions and matches, can stay one night a year free of charge at the Martin’s Red hotel during a training period and receive an Disability-foot 30/03/2018 festival Brussels RSD Jette 108 operating budget. In addition they wear the official Adidas outfits + training outfit and the RBFA promotes their matches, tournaments and events through the 12/05/2018 Tournament Henegouwen Ghlin 200 Belgian Football channels. 29/09/2018 Disability foot Brussels Evere 30 festival blind football and match 18/10/2018 Disability-foot Walloon Belgian Football 70 festival Brabant Centre

18/10/2018 International Walloon Belgian Football Belgian Blind blind football Brabant Centre Devils vs match Germany

14 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 15 4.1 INCLUSION RBFA 2018

4.1.2. LGBT+ IN FOOTBALL 4.1.3. Everybody on the pitch

On Thursday 8 March 2018 the documentary entitled Heroes of Football was In March 2017 the RBFA, Voetbal Vlaanderen, ACFF and Pro League together broadcasted on Canvas. The RBFA had a huge part in the realization thereof. launched the project ‘Iedereen op het veld’ (‘Everybody on the pitch’). Thanks to the Former technical manager Chris Van Puyvelde, the U19 Belgian Red Flames, support from Fedasil & UEFA we were able to continue this project in 2018. This , Riana Nainggolan and all had a role in this project focuses especially on the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers within documentary. regular football clubs as players but also as volunteers. More information: www.heroesoffootball.eu Each year we communicate in the month of February during the Football vs PARTNERS Homophobia Action Month. And on 17 May at the International Day against Homophobia and Transphobia. • Fedasil • Brussels Football • Province de Namur Upon invitation from Sport Vlaanderen, on Thursday 8 November 2018 we • UEFA • Démos • Vzw Fast Forward presented the application Heroes of Football at the KICS conference in Bruges, • Voetbal Vlaanderen • Réfu-Interim • Agentschap voor the sports innovation congress organized by Sport Vlaanderen. Through a virtual • ACFF • Vzw De Rand Integratie & Inburgering reality experience the smartphone application intends to give people from the • Pro League • CRIBW football world a positive image on acceptance of LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and other groups), and enhance the understanding around the barriers they could face within a football environment when they want to LINKS come out of the closet. ACFF: https://www.acff.be/ Heroes of Football will also be continued in 2019: the Erasmus+ project proposal Agentschap voor Integratie en Inburgering: https://www.integratie-inburgering.be/ “OUT! – Fighting homophobia and empowering LGBT+ stakeholders in football” Brussels Football: https://www.brusselsfootball.be/ received the green light from the European Commission in September 2018. This project is in cooperation with Pride in Football, Fuball gegen Homophobie e.V. and CRIBW: http://www.cribw.be project leader Football Supporters Europe. Démos: https://demos.be/ Fedasil: https://www.fedasil.be LINKS Pro League: http://www.proleague.be/ Football Supporters Europe: https://www.fanseurope.org Province de Namur: https://www.province.namur.be/ Heroes of Football: Réfu-Interim : https://www.refuinterim.be/ www.heroesoffootball.eu UEFA : https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/social-responsibility/ https://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/over-ons/sociale-projecten/heroes-football Voetbal Vlaanderen: www.voetbalvlaanderen.be Pride in Football: https://prideinfootball.co.uk/ VZW De Rand: https://www.derand.be/ VZW Fast Forward : http://www.fast-forward.be/

16 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 17 4.1 INCLUSION RBFA 2018

RESULTS EVERYBODY ON THE PITCH

Thanks to the project funds from Fedasil & UEFA we were able to further • We organised two ‘Everybody on the pitch-tournaments’ for refugees, asylum elaborate the various objectives of 2017 and to refocus in 2018. The support of seekers, football clubs and organisations. All the matches were refereed by pilot clubs, hosting initiatives and other organisations to elaborate the inclusion professional referees, some of whom also with a refugee status. We hosted story for refugees & asylum seekers still remained a priority factor. more than 40 clubs. . • Our official fans of 1895 played a friendly match against OHL Worldteam, a Below you will find some facts & figures about the project in 2018: : team composed of refugees. This way we try to present our projects to our group of fans as well. • In order to enhance information to the football clubs, reception initiatives and local authorities, we organised eight information sessions in total in the • As the final event we organised a football day for this target group. In the various provinces of Belgium. By doing so, we reached 45 people. morning we organised various workshops at the Martins Red Hotel for the asylum seekers & refugees who had registered (volunteering in football, how • There are 44 official (both professional and amateur football clubs) pilot clubs. do I become a referee, how do I prepare for looking for work, women’s rights This is twice the number of last year. and how does an integration trajectory go in Belgium?). In the afternoon we • Through these pilot clubs more than 500 refugees and asylum seekers are organised a football tournament and a foot festival for the ladies at the Belgian involved and 35 refugee centres from Fedasil, Croix Rouge and the Rode Kruis Football Centre. Over 200 asylum seekers & refugees participated in this. have been personally addressed to start cooperating with a local club. • This year we made five reports on this theme, which we have distributed • 24 refugees are working as volunteers at the pilot clubs. through the social media channels of the RBFA. • The project was presented on various national & international conferences:: • In 2018 our project made the VRT news twice. The project was also discussed - 3 - 6 april: Study Group UEFA – Inclusion of refugees at the morning radio show of Radio 1 region of Leuven where our RBFA project - 26 & 27 april: Conférence ECCAR – European Coalition of Cities Against manager was interviewed. Racism - 18 september: Regionaal LOI-overleg Limburg - 22 oktober: Conferentie diversiteit in het voetbal in Brussel - 7 & 8 november: Responsiball – Refugees & sport in Lausanne - 3 & 4 december: Inspire-conference of FARE in Warschau

• Ten refugees followed the coaching training and seven of them obtained their diploma. • By means of a special promotion of the free activities of Voetbal Vlaanderen and ACFF exclusively for women & girls we reached 22 female players. They participated in football festivals and football camps. • A Flemish club organised an information night ‘Klare taal’ (‘Plain Language’) for its staff members on how to best communicate as a club with foreign- language speakers.

18 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 19 4.1 INCLUSION RBFA 2018

EVERYBODY ON THE PITCH-TOOLS

In addition to our FAQ, good practice guide and football dictionaries that we launched in 2017, we have designed some new tools in 2018 :

• A brochure in four languages (Dutch, French, English and Arabic) adapted to the needs of the target group about women’s football. • A brochure in four languages (Dutch, French, English and Arabic) adapted to the needs of the target group about volunteering. • Another realisation is ‘Scoring with language’. Together with vzw Fast Forward we want to inspire organisations and clubs on how they can organize themselves workshops on language and meeting. • The RBFA contributed to the European good practice guide that UEFA issued in October 2018.

Everybody on the pitch! BROCHURES TOOLS

20 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 21 4.1 INCLUSION RBFA 2018

4.1.4. Belgian Homeless Cup 4.1.5. Working group diversity in football

The Belgian Homeless Cup (BHC) is an organisation that is committed to helping In 2018 the RBFA set up a working group that specifically focuses on stimulating homeless people or people without a roof over their heads. It uses football diversity and tackling discrimination in football. Voetbal Vlaanderen, ACFF, Pro as a tool for integration and organizes various tournaments, traineeships and League and various departments of the RBFA are represented in this working events throughout the year. As from 2016 the RBFA is a member of the Board of group. In 2018 the working group held three meetings and elaborated an action Directors of BHC. plan for tackling discrimination in football. This resulted in the following specific results: PARTNERS • Two amendments in the regulations that facilitate sanctioning discrimination and derisive singing on and around the pitch. • Belgian Homeless Cup • Organisation of the ‘Football and diversity’ conference • Pro League • Info session for elite referees on e.g. how to handle discriminating chanting and LINKS singing in professional football Belgian Homeless Cup: https://www.belgianhomelesscup.be/ • Drawing up a presentation for referees at amateur level on how to handle discriminating chanting and singing,... in amateur football Pro League: http://www.proleague.be/ • Adoption of the presentation for referees in the general referee training

Results From the part of the RBFA we cooperate with BHC in two ways. On the one hand the RBFA provides free referees for BHC matches and tournaments. On the other hand we support the Belgian Homeless Devils and Flames, the national teams 4.1.6. Conference: Football & Diversity representing Belgium at the Homeless World Cup. On Monday 22 October 2018 the RBFA, ACFF, Voetbal Vlaanderen and the On Monday 5 March 2018 the initial tournament of BHC took place at the Belgian Pro League organised a conference where we highlighted the various diversity Football Centre in Tubeke. For this event BHC could use the facilities and staff projects of Belgian football and the action plan for tackling discrimination and free of charge. Also Red Devils coach Roberto Martinez came to visit that day and transgressive behaviour. awarded the trophies. Every football federation presented one project, followed by a panel discussion On Thursday 15 March 2018 the RBFA, Pro League and BHC organised a on how to tackle derisive and discriminating singing & actions in (amateur) fundraising gala for companies to raise some funds for the Belgian Homeless Cup. football efficiently. This conference hosted 117 participants from football, public Roberto Martinez was an important guest speaker that night and shared some authorities and social organisations. interesting insights on how to form a successful and solid team with the audience. In addition we organised an auction. The Belgian Homeless Devils and Flames were “What I will remember from the conference is the dynamics of the project the hosts of the evening and shared their BHC experiences with the guests. managers and the action plan against racism” And last but not least the RBFA supported the ‘My Team My Home’ Campaign Participant ‘Football & Diversity’ conference launched by the BHC. , Thomas Meunier, and had a meeting with some Belgian Homeless Devils and Flames and shared their experiences on how it is to be part of a team. The campaign was “I will particularly remember that football is fully committed to assuming its highlighted by various media, e.g. Sporza and RTBF communicated about this social responsibility” campaign and the work realized by BHC. Participant ‘Football & Diversity’ conference

22 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 23 4.2 Children’s & Human Rights RBFA 2018

As the RBFA and the (male and female) players of our national teams feel a huge connection with RESULTS children, in 2016 we decided to start cooperating with organisations that focus on promoting and In 2018 we organised the Duivelse +Schoolactie in cooperation with Ketnet and fostering children’s and human rights. These organisations are considered to be the official partners OUFtivi. We invited schools to put Pleegzorg Vlaanderen and les Familles d’accueil or our national teams. Apart from these partnerships with the national teams we have elaborated our in the local spotlights. action points around the tackling of transgressive behaviour in football. We finished the partnership in style at the final friendly match before the WC: Belgium vs. Costa Rica. 400 foster children were present during the match and 4.2.1. Partnership Belgian Red Devils after the match celebrated the victory together with the Red Devils on the pitch. Apart from the launching of these campaigns we were able to surprise about In 2016 Pleegzorg Vlaanderen and its Walloon counterpart, les Familles 50 foster children in Belgium with a meet and greet with the Red Devils. During d’Accueil, was elected the new CSR partner of the Belgian Red Devils. The joint every Red Devils training camp we organised a meet & greet for six foster objective was to introduce their operation to a wider public and thus to find more children. In addition a total of 700 tickets were distributed amongst foster foster families for children & youngsters growing up in an unhealthy and unsafe families. home situation. The Belgian Red Devils have used their communicative power to introduce both organisations to a wider public in Belgium. This partnership ended after WC 2018. In June 2018 the Belgian Red Devils launched an appeal for a new social partner. 29 organisations applied and finally the Belgian Red Devils elected Bednet and Take Off as their new partner for the EC Qualification period 2018-2020. Together they commit themselves to sick children who, because of their illness, cannot go to school. Thanks to Bednet and Take Off these children stay in touch with their class and school through the computer. This partnership was officially launched in November 2018.

PARTNERS • Les Familles d’Accueil • Pleegzorg Vlaanderen • Take Off • Bednet

LINKS Les Familles d’Accueil: http://www.lesfamillesdaccueil.be/ Pleegzorg Vlaanderen : https://www.pleegzorgvlaanderen.be/ Take Off: https://www.takeoff-asbl.be/ Bednet: https://www.bednet.be/

24 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 25 4.2 Children’s & Human Rights RBFA 2018

RESEARCH IMPACT PARTNERSHIP In collaboration with the research group Sport and Society from the Brussels University (VUB) the impact of the Red Devils on the notoriety of Pleegzorg Vlaanderen and les Familles d’Accueil was examined. Researchers from the Free University Brussels (VUB) were commissioned to assess the ‘Duivelse+ scholen’ campaign. The objective is to realize a thorough efficiency measurement of the Duivelse+ Scholen campaign and to get an idea of the knowledge and awareness around foster care in Flanders. In order to assess the added value of the Red Devils in this campaign and so to measure the ‘net’ impact of this campaign data were collected in different ways. Before and after the campaign a population survey was organized on the knowledge & awareness of foster care & motivation to become a foster parent. A research company was contracted to collect respondents (two times 1200 people were questioned). Furthermore about 500 questionnaires and about 10 focus groups with students were established at schools that participated or not in the Duivelse+ school action. The first analyses showed that the campaign was extremely well received. Most respondents found the commitment from the Red Devils to foster care really positive. The Red Devils were also believed to be credible role models and proper ambassadors for foster care. Foster care as such appears to be known by the general public, although many people have an incorrect image of what foster care is exactly about. For many people there are thresholds that keep them from becoming foster parents themselves. The huge majority really has a soft spot for softer care. The students and schools that participated in the Duivelse+ school action appeared to be thrilled about their participation. Because the VUB wants to examine the sustainable effects of the campaign, the research is currently still going on. In the fall this will result in a final research report from the research group Sport & Society (Jens De Rycke, 2019).

26 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 27 4.2 Children’s & Human Rights RBFA 2018

4.2.2. Partnership Belgian Red Flames & Plan International Belgium Plan International Belgium is a Belgian organisation mainly operating in third world countries. Its main focus is on improving the girls’ and women’s rights through various projects. The Belgian Red Flames support the girls’ football project of Plan International Belgium in Benin since September 2016. .

PARTNERS • Plan International Belgium

LINKS Plan International België: https://www.planinternational.be

RESULTS On the occasion of the matches played by the Belgian Red Flames various awareness and fundraising actions were set up. For example Plan International organized a workshop for the Belgian Red Flames on girls’ rights and the Red Flames designed an exclusive totebag in collaboration with Eva Mouton. These bags were sold during the matches played by the Belgian Red Flames to benefit the football project in Benin. The Red Flames gave their own input with respect to the totebag design.

"We really like the totebag and we hope that many fans will buy one and thus support the girls’ football project in Benin. The totebag completely represents the message that we as the Belgian Red Flames want to send out: that girls’ rights are important and that we want to commit ourselves 100% as a team to promote this" Belgian Red Flames player Julie Biesmans.

In addition, at the closing event of our refugee project ‘Everybody on the pitch’ Plan International Belgium organized a workshop on gender equality & women’s rights for the female participants. In order to end 2018 in style on Sunday 23 December the Red Flames played ‘De Warmste Match’ during De Warmste Week organized by radio station Studio Brussels. Their opponents were the actors from the tv series ‘Thuis’. The action was a great success and yielded more than €35,000 for ALS Liga & Plan International Belgium.

28 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 29 4.2 Children’s & Human Rights 4.3 HEALTH RBFA 2018 RBFA 2018

4.2.3. Tackling transgressive behaviour 4.3.1. Smoke-free stadium

Transgressive behaviour also happens within a sport context: racism, Apart from a smoke-free Belgian Football Centre in Tubeke this year we focused homophobia, but also physical, psychological and sexual violence. The RBFA and on the further elaboration of a smoke-free stadium policy during all the matches its regional federations are aware of that and adopted a number of measures to played by the national teams. We discussed the results of the survey of 2017 prevent this on the one hand and to be able to tackle this adequately when this with our Belgium Fan Club 1895 and Stichting tegen Kanker. This resulted in a would occur on or around the pitch on the other hand. new project entitled ‘Ambassadors Smoke-Free Stadium’ that will be launched in 2019. RESULTS Voetbal Vlaanderen and ACFF set up a contact point so that anyone in PARTNERS football, i.e. clubs, volunteers, players and fans, can appeal to a collaborator for • Stichting tegen Kanker information and guidance. This contact point can be reached either by telephone • Tabakstop or by e-mail and is mentioned on the website. • Vlaams Instituut Gezond Leven In addition the RBFA organized a ‘Sport met Grenzen’ (‘Sport with Limits’) info •City of Brussels session for the team managers of the national teams. At the info session we • National lottery thoroughly addressed some specific risk factors for abuse in football, prevention and the procedure to follow in case of an incident. Various fictitious cases have been discussed in an interactive way by applying the flag system. LINKS Nationale Loterij: https://www.nationale-loterij.be/ Stad Brussel: https://www.brussel.be/ LINKS Stichting tegen Kanker: www.kanker.be • Contact point Voetbal Vlaanderen: Tabakstop: https://www.tabakstop.be/ https://www.voetbalvlaanderen.be/over-ons-0/meldpunt Vlaams Instituut Gezond Leven: www.gezondleven.be 02/4771222 [email protected] • Contact point ACFF: https://www.acff.be/clubs/projets-sociaux/lutte-contre-la-discrimination [email protected] • Contact point KBVB: https://www.belgianfootball.be/nl/over-ons/sociale-projecten/meldpunt- grensoverschrijdend-gedrag

30 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 31 4.3 Health RBFA 2018

4.3.2. Stichting tegen Kanker

Belgium Fanclub 1895, the fan club of the Belgian national teams, is committed TOURNÉE MINERALE to supporting various actions and campaigns organized by the Stichting In February the Stichting tegen Kanker organizes Tournée Minerale: for an entire tegen Kanker. It undertakes this commitment because a lot of fans are being month the Belgian population is stimulated not to drink any alcohol and to confronted with cancer during their lives, both in person or with friends or family. experience the effect thereof. Also Belgium Fanclub 1895 participates each year This disease affects everyone and that is why Belgium Fanclub 1895 wants to with a team and wants to encourage its fans to participate in Tournée Minerale. contribute in stimulating scientific research and promoting a healthy lifestyle. Below is a list of the various actions. LEVENSLOOP PARTNERS Twice a year Belgium Fanclub 1895 mobilizes the fans of our national teams to participate in a Levensloop. For 24h we walk or run together to highlight the daily • Stichting tegen Kanker battle against cancer and to raise some funds. You can find the Belgium Fanclub 1895 team on the Levensloop website. In 2018 the Belgium Fanclub 1895 fan LINKS team participated in the life runs in Ghent and in Brussels (ULB). Camp Tournesol: https://www.cancer.be/camptournesol www.levensloop.be Levensloop: CAMP TOURNESOL Stichting tegen Kanker: www.kanker.be Camp Tournesol is a camp for children who are fighting against cancer. During an entire week they can forget their disease for a while and enjoy fun activities together with other children in the same situation. Belgium Fanclub 1895 is always looking for fun ways to support this camp. For example in 2018 a skype session was organised with the Red Devils who were in Russia at the time and everyone received a devil present. Also mascot RED was present and created a nice atmosphere.

32 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 33 RBFA 2018

4.4 Sustainability 4.4.1. Project TACKLE

With respect to sustainability a lot of steps still have to be taken by the RBFA. In 2018 the first seams Tackle stands for ‘Teaming-up for A Conscious Kick for the Legacy of were planted for the elaboration of a specific policy on sustainability. At the start of the year 2018 we Environment’, which in a few words means that we want to measure the submitted two projects that were approved in December 2018 by the European Union and the Flemish environmental impact during the organisation of football events. This way we public authorities. In addition, in 2018 the first meetings were held with partners (Coca Cola, AB Inbev, want to make sure that the environmental burden is as limited as possible. The Bevers, City of Brussels) in order to elaborate a plan for a more sustainable organisation of matches at results of the measurement will be used to elaborate an action plan for the the . organisation of football events in Belgium by the RBFA. . At the Belgian Football Centre this theme is continuously on our mind. For example already various types of waste (plastic – cardboard – residual waste –vfg) are being sorted at the site. All green waste is also sorted and composted to fertilize the grounds. Apart from this, we use eco-friendly sprays to maintain our football pitches, even before it became a legal obligation. In 2018 we started with two hives at the Belgian Football Centre. Now we already have six.

PARTNERS 4.4.2. Project 2030 • Route 2030 • Tackle In mid-December the Flemish Department of Foreign Affairs approved the RBFA project proposal on sustainability. LINKS This means that we as football organizers will be pioneers to adjust our CSR Route 2030: https://www.route2030.be/ policy to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). These goals have been Sustainable Development Goals: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/ defined worldwide towards 2030 and constitute the major international sustainability framework for the coming 11 years. Through this project we want TACKLE: to adapt our policy to the SDGs and thus make a contribution with a significant https://www.amiu.genova.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/LIFE-TACKLE-A5-FLYER-V02.pdf impact, create a common language & and be a role model within the sports sector. To streamline this process we get professional guidance from Route 2030, an external & objective consultancy firm in sustainability and change management. This project starts in February 2019.

34 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 35 RBFA 2018 RBFA 2018 5// 6// Social office Jo Vanhecke Fund

Every year the RBFA receives more than 100 applications from charitable organisations to support them The Jo Vanhecke Fund was created in memory of Jo Vanhecke, director of the Football Cell of the by means of signed equipment, tickets or a meet & greet with the national teams. All applications are Ministry of the Interior. This fund is used to finance football projects that focus on security. In this respect examined by the CSR department and it is assessed whether we can reply in a favourable way. Meet & extra attention is paid to reducing racism and discrimination and promoting inclusion. In 2018 the RBFA greets and signed equipment are reserved for the social partner organisations of the RBFA. as well as the Pro League donated €5,000 to this fund and the call for projects was also distributed through the communication channels. RESULTS LINKS In 2018 we distributed 1144 social tickets for the Red Devils matches. 18 organisations were still on the Jo Vanhecke Fund: waiting lists on 1 January 2019 to receive free tickets. https://www.besafe.be/nl/veiligheidsthemas/voetbal/service-preventie/fonds-jo-vanhecke The remaining 60 applications were mainly organisations asking for signed items. Because of the partnerships with various social organisations we were unable to grant the requests and we only offer signed items to the charitable organisations with which we develop a structural cooperation. For 45 children suffering from an incurable disease a meet & greet was organized with the Belgian Red Devils after the open training session, in collaboration with Bednet and Take-Off.

COLOPHON Editors : Hedeli Sassi An De Kock Michael Schockaert Design : Wendy Reusen Translation : French and English Omnitext Thank you The RBFA wishes to thank its regional wings Voetbal Vlaanderen and ACFF, Pro League and all the non-profit organisations and sponsors who helped us with the implementation of our social projects. This is a publication of the Royal Belgian Football Association, Avenue Houba de Strooper 145 - 1020 Brussels +32 02 477 12 11 [email protected] www.belgianfootball.be Copyright Royal Belgian Football Association 2019 Publisher : Peter Bossaert, Avenue Houba de Strooper 145, 1020 Brussels

36 Corporate Social Responsibility Results 2018 www.belgianfootball.be 37 THANK YOU !

Royal Belgian Football Association Union Royale Belge des Sociétés de Football-Association Koninklijke Belgische Voetbalbond