Liability fund and SV 98 select winners of the 2024 volunteer award

The honour not only recognises exceptional club work and special commitment, but also underlines the high value of voluntary work in Darmstadt and the region. A winner was chosen by jury in each of three different categories: VfR Fehlheim 1929 e.V. won in the “Education & Knowledge Transfer” category, FC Ober-Abtsteinach e.V. won in the “Ecology & Sustainability” category and the referee in the “Fair Play” category. Sports Club Odenwald e. V. The “Cohesion & Participation” category was decided by an audience vote after a jury selection. Around 2,100 participants took part in the vote, in which the gymnastics and sports club Griesheim 1899 e.V. was able to prevail. All winning clubs receive prize money of 3,000 euros.

Roland Roider (Chairman of the Board, The Liability Insurance Fund VVaG): “As a mutual insurance association, we feel particularly obliged to promote voluntary commitment in our region. That’s why we launched the volunteer award together with SV Darmstadt 1898. We would like to once again express our appreciation for the voluntary work with prize money of 12,000 euros this year.”

Martin Kowalewski (Managing Director Marketing & Sales, SV 98): “It is impressive how many special projects the clubs in the region set up with voluntary work. The volunteer award, in conjunction with the liability fund, offers us an opportunity to express our appreciation for the many volunteers who do outstanding work. A big thank you goes to all the participating clubs who applied for the prize.”

Public decision with 1,020 votes: Gymnastics and Sports Club Griesheim 1899 e.V.

The gymnastics and sports club Griesheim 1899 e.V. offers the “Inclusive Swimming” project, which aims to give children with various physical and mental disabilities the joy of swimming and to improve their skills in the water. Qualified trainers adapt the swimming courses individually to the needs of the participants, promote an integrative environment and use various teaching methods. The project not only strengthens the physical abilities of the participants, but also promotes their self-confidence and sense of community. Another project is planned for late summer 2024 that will support the promotion of physical activity in preschool children through psychomotor exercises that are intended to promote the children’s physical, cognitive and emotional development. Playful activities and cooperative games also strengthen social interaction and group cohesion.

VfR Fehlheim 1929 e.V.

VfR Fehlheim has developed a holistic 360-degree support concept for young people that combines sporting excellence with academic support, career preparation and social commitment. Inspired by “Anpfiff ins Leben”, the concept aims to develop young people into self-confident and socially committed personalities. Since taking over the board two years ago, the club has experienced exceptional growth, with membership increasing by more than 300 percent in areas such as youth soccer, children’s gymnastics and children’s dance. However, high demand has led to capacity limits, with registration stops and waiting lists because the number of qualified trainers is insufficient. The VfR Fehlheim is considered a lighthouse project in the region and is aiming for an award in order to further expand the structures and enable more children to participate.

FC Ober-Abtsteinach e.V.

The „Waste Field“ project carried out an environmentally friendly, climate-neutral renovation of an artificial turf sports system, whereby 100 percent of the old material, including microplastics, was returned to the economic cycle, saving over 300 tons of CO2 equivalent and 135 tons of waste. When redesigning the FC Ober-Abtsteinach e.V. artificial turf field, bio-based materials such as rapeseed oil and ground olive kernels were used for the first time, meaning the field serves as a CO2 sink. The new system enables 100 percent recyclability after a service life of around 15 years. If applied nationwide, this innovative process could save an average of 377 tons of CO2 equivalent and around 160 tons of waste per football pitch. The project was supported by the Federal Republic of Germany and the state of Hesse in order to contribute to climate protection and waste reduction in sports facility construction.

Schiedsrichter-Sport-Verein Odenwald e. V.

The Referee-Sport-Verein Odenwald e.V., founded in 2015, focuses on recruiting and supporting young referees, and also offers support for more experienced colleagues in the face of increasing physical attacks on referees. The club is increasingly focusing on measures to promote camaraderie in order to compensate for negative experiences and maintain the joy of the activity. In addition to social events, the club places an important focus on improving its members‘ knowledge of the rules. Despite these efforts, the number of referees in the club has decreased significantly in recent years. Due to the shortage of referees, the remaining referees are often required to officiate several games per week.