New EFDN member: De Graafschap

New EFDN member: De Graafschap

EFDN is delighted to announce that De Graafschap and its Foundation De Graafschap Verbindt have joined the network. The Dutch club wants to exchange knowledge and ideas with EFDN members from across Europe, identify new projects and participate in EFDN events.

De Graafschap Verbindt was founded in June 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The club truly believes that a sustainable future of professional football in our region is linked to the contribution it makes to society. The establishment of the De Graafschap Verbindt guarantees a sustainable embedding of social projects and activities in the region. De Graafschap Verbindt can be a framework for regional and local CSR initiatives for our business partners, the local government, educational institutes and social organisations. De Graafschap is strongly attached to the region and the club wants to use its unique position to create more opportunities for kids, youngsters, disabled people, asylum seekers and other people in society.

The mission of De Graafschap Verbindt is: ‘No Achterhoeker on the sideline’. The ‘Achterhoeker’ is a nick-name for a person who lives or is born in our region the Achterhoek. This fits the identity of the club, but also our region in which ‘looking after each other’ has an important position in society. We call it ‘naoberschap’.

De Graafschap Verbindt wants to improve the well-being and living conditions of inhabitants, groups, neighborhoods and villages and supports other regional social organisations in achieving their objectives. The foundation does this by carrying out social projects and activities such as Verbindt Naobers, Special Eredivisie, Oldstars and FIT programme in the region, by partnerships and organisations in society. Together with companies, organisations, municipalities and educational institutions in the region, they create opportunities to realise their mission.

Find more information on their member page here.