A week after SV Werder Bremen were promoted to the Bundesliga in 2022, the club known for driving social change committed to pledging 1% of their ticket and sponsorship revenues to the Common Goal movement and created an option for employees to take the pledge as well.
This move made SV Werder Bremen the third professional club, and the first German one to take the pledge after the Danish club FC Nordsjælland made the commitment in 2018 and Oakland Roots from the US did so in 2020.
"Our Common Goal membership is a milestone and a historical moment in our commitment to social sustainability, which we are very proud of,” said Klaus Filbry, Chairman of the Management Board at SV Werder.
“Through the 1% mechanism, we enable all members of the Werder family to contribute to our social commitment and create equitable opportunities."
Over the years the Green-Whites have used football and their platform in the community to promote inclusion and enable young people to reach their full potential. In 2021 the club took home UEFA’s Grassroots Award for their commitment to engaging with and creating opportunities for communities across the city.
One of SV Werder Bremen’s biggest social impact initiatives is SPIELRAUM, a programme which harnesses the power of sport to connect young people. The programme runs regular sports-based training sessions, engaging a diverse group of young people across Bremen and Lower Saxony. Through the initiative, SV Werder Bremen enables young people to take responsibility and cultivates a new generation of physically and socially active community members.
After undergoing Common Goal’s quality assessment, where the SPIELRAUM was examined over several months to ensure it aligned with the standards of the movement, it became part of the Common Goal Community meaning Common Goal members can direct their pledge to the initiative.
As SV Werder Bremen’s Director of CSR Anne-Kathrin Laufmann noted, "Through the successful certification of our SPIELRAUM project, our sponsors, fans, employees, and members of the Common Goal movement will have the opportunity to financially contribute and strengthen our commitment to promoting physical activity and personal development amongst young people in Bremen and Lower Saxony.”
In line with the club’s commitment to their community, SV Werder Bremen put part of their pledge towards SPIELRAUM to increase the club’s impact throughout the local area.