SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN FOOTBALL STRATEGY

2025–2028

1. EQUALITY AND INCLUSION

Gintra Football Club upholds and implements the principles of equality, social integration and inclusion in all activities, from organising events to playing football, and reminds club members of these principles. Ensuring equal opportunities regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability or other aspects of identity is one of the club's core values.

The club ensures:

  1. Full inclusion in the club's professional and voluntary activities regardless of individual identity.
  • Actions: Review and adapt recruitment, volunteering and youth engagement processes to ensure an equal opportunities policy.
  • KPI: At least 20% of newly engaged volunteers or employees come from underrepresented groups.
  • Timeframe: January 2025 – December 2026 (ongoing activities).
  1. Equal opportunities for a professional career, preventing all forms of violence and psychological pressure.
  • Actions: Review the internal code of ethics and run an internal communication campaign.
  • KPI: Inform 100% of staff and players about the code through an internal educational session every season.
  • Timeframe: March – June 2025 (updated annually).
  1. Zero tolerance of harassment and discrimination, and an active response to different needs.
  • Actions: Establish an anonymous reporting system for club members and staff and appoint a responsible person.
  • KPI: System usage statistics and an annual report (target: zero tolerated incidents).
  • Timeframe: From January 2025, implemented continuously.
  1. Active participation in social initiatives promoting equality and inclusion.
  2. Actions: Participate in or organise at least three public inclusion initiatives annually, including the 'Galime daugiau' project (run with partner Gubernija for two years), visits to educational institutions, and inter-class competitions encouraging girls to play football.
  3. KPI: Engage at least 200 participants in the initiatives each year.
  4. Timeframe: 2025–2028 (annually).

2. ANTI-DISCRIMINATION

Gintra Women's Football Club applies a strict zero-tolerance policy towards all discrimination and actively implements preventive measures from the Lithuanian Football Federation, UEFA and FIFA.

  1. Preventing racism during matches
  • Actions: Issue announcements before matches and provide preventive briefings for stadium staff.
  • Target group: Spectators, stadium staff and volunteers.
  • Responsible: Match organiser, safety coordinator and club staff.
  • KPI: Monitor potential incidents, strengthen communication and assess progress regularly and dynamically.
  1. Publicly communicating the club's stance against racism
  • Actions: Publish information on social media and the stadium screen at matches attracting larger audiences.
  • Target group: The public, spectators and social media audiences.
  • Responsible: Communications department.
  • KPI: Two to three messages per season.
  1. Communicating commitments to spectators
  • Actions: Integrate a commitment to the zero-tolerance policy into the ticketing platform.
  • Target group: Spectators.
  • Responsible: Communications department.
  • KPI: Policy information on 100% of tickets.
  1. Preventing the distribution of discriminatory materials
  • Actions: Prohibit the distribution of racist literature or merchandise on stadium grounds.
  • Target group: Spectators.
  • Responsible: Club management and the Head of Communications and Marketing.
  • KPI: Zero recorded violations per season.
  1. Actions involving players
  • Actions: Educational sessions and individual discussions; an internal investigation if an incident occurs.
  • Target group: Teams of all age groups.
  • Responsible: Head Coach and Sporting Director.
  • KPI: 100% adherence to zero tolerance.
  1. Rapid response to racist symbols on stadium grounds
  • Actions: Visual monitoring and response.
  • Target group: Spectators and stadium maintenance staff.
  • Responsible: Club staff.
  • KPI: Implementation status.
  1. Equal opportunities policy for employees and supporters
  • Actions: Update the policy annually and train staff.
  • Target group: Human resources department and spectators.
  • Responsible: Club administration.
  • KPI: One training session annually and zero incidents.
  1. Cooperation with social partners
  • Actions: Participate in projects with schools, voluntary organisations and social partners.
  • Target group: The community, young people and partners.
  • Responsible: Communications department.
  • KPI: Three projects annually.

All the actions listed above apply throughout the strategy period, 2025–2028.

3. FOOTBALL FOR ALL ABILITIES

Gintra Football Club is committed to ensuring that everyone, regardless of physical or sensory ability, feels welcome and can actively participate in the club as a spectator, volunteer or team member. Inclusion is a core organisational value guiding our daily work and strategic decisions.

Actions:

  1. Ensure physical access to the stadium for people with disabilities through designated parking spaces, accessible stands and stadium entrances.
  2. Offer discounted or free admission to people with disabilities and their companions at club events.
  3. Create and implement volunteering opportunities for people with disabilities, encouraging participation in event organisation, information services, ticket checking and other activities.
  4. Educate staff, players and academy members about different disabilities, empathy, communication and respect through seminars, discussions and social initiatives.

Target group: Spectators with disabilities, community members, academy members, volunteers and club staff.

Key performance indicator (KPI):

  • 100% accessibility of stadium events for people with disabilities;
  • at least one social initiative with disability organisations each year;

Responsible: Club Director and Personnel and Projects Coordinator.

All the actions listed above apply throughout the strategy period, 2025–2028.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Gintra Football Club considers sustainability integral to its activities. It aims to incorporate environmentally responsible solutions into daily practice, encourage mindful habits in the community and show how sport can champion a sustainable approach to the environment.

Actions:

  1. Sort waste at stadiums during all training sessions and matches, using separate bins for plastic, paper, glass and mixed waste.
  2. The team and academy members have stopped using disposable plastic bottles. Only reusable drinking bottles and large water containers are used during all training sessions and competitions.
  3. During warmer months, players are encouraged to cycle or use other sustainable transport to training.
  4. Club members are encouraged to use public transport, walk or use scooters to reduce their carbon footprint.
  5. Schedule training during daylight hours to minimise electricity consumption.
  6. The club and academy actively participate in environmental initiatives, from public campaigns such as 'Darom' and 'Mes rūšiuojame' to educational lessons and social projects on protecting nature.

Target group: Players, academy members, coaches, club staff, spectators and partners.

Key performance indicator (KPI):

  • 100% use of reusable drinking bottles in training and competitions;
  • participate in an environmental initiative at least once a year;
  • Regular waste sorting, information materials at the stadium and communication on social media.

Responsible: Club administration, Head of Communications and Personnel and Projects Coordinator.

All the actions listed above apply throughout the strategy period, 2025–2028.