Volunteering in Football to foster Community and Cohesion

• Emilia volunteers as treasurer and team manager at SV Lindenau in her hometown of Schneeberg and invests several hours per week in this role.
• Through her volunteering she particularly strengthens her communication and organisational skills as well as team spirit – competencies she also brings to the advisory centre at Commerzbank.
• She is convinced that voluntary engagement promotes gratitude, cohesion and democratic values, and she would like to see more visibility and support for volunteering.

Emilia, how did you get into your volunteering?
I have been passionate about football for five years. The club is simply part of my life; it is a piece of home. I also realised that in times of social media and increasing digital offerings, it is important for children to still have the opportunity to have fun without a screen. I wanted to actively support this – not as a coach, but in the many tasks that happen in the background.

What exactly do you do in your volunteering at SV Lindenau?
I am treasurer and team manager of the men’s team. This means, on the one hand, classic club work: I take care of the bookkeeping, write minutes of board meetings and organise events such as Christmas parties, indoor tournaments or training camps. On the other hand, I am responsible for public relations. I give interviews at events, manage our social media channels, write articles for local newspapers and answer emails. As team manager, I support the two coaches with all organisational matters relating to the men’s team.

How much time does your volunteering take per week – and how do you manage that alongside your work at the bank?
On average I invest two to four hours per week. That sounds manageable, but depending on the phase of the season or on events, it can quickly become more. The key for me is clear planning and prioritisation: I look at my week, consider when I have time slots and what level of engagement is realistic. This helps me to combine my tasks at the bank and in the club successfully. It is important to keep an eye on your own workload and consciously set boundaries so that volunteering remains an enrichment.

What positive experiences have you had through your volunteering?
First and foremost, gratitude and appreciation. It feels good when people see what is happening behind the scenes and acknowledge it. Volunteering gives me the opportunity to gain new experiences that help me professionally and personally. When we work together towards a goal – be it a successful tournament or a good season – a strong sense of belonging and solidarity develops. That is very fulfilling.

What do you take from your volunteering into your work at Commerzbank?
I would say both sides benefit from each other. Especially in communication I can transfer a lot: How do I convey content in a way that is easy to understand? How do I deal with different target groups? In my volunteering the spectrum is much broader than in the bank; it ranges from children to long-standing club members. How do I present myself in interviews or in public? All of this helps me in my role as coordinator in the advisory centre. At the same time, I use things from the bank – such as structure, reliability and project experience – for my tasks in the club.

From your point of view, does volunteering contribute to democracy and social cohesion?
Yes, definitely. Volunteering plays an important role in encouraging people to be an active part of society and to shape community. Those who get involved take on responsibility, live solidarity and experience how very different people come together. This strengthens social cohesion and democratic values – in smaller contexts just as much as in larger ones.

What would you wish for with regard to your volunteering?
I would like volunteering to be more visible in general. Many people do not realise how much work lies behind these activities and how much time people invest. At the same time, I think it is important that volunteering receives greater financial support, for example from associations. Sponsors already help a lot – without them many things would not be possible. I am very grateful for that. But overall, volunteering needs more recognition and resources.

Finally: Is there something that is particularly close to your heart?
There is a saying I would like to share: “Everyone can change the world a little – you just have to start.” For me, this sums up well what volunteering is about: you do not need the perfect plan, you need the first step. If many people take on a small part of responsibility, a great deal can be achieved together.

Thank you very much for your insights, Emilia.