
The committee of Bayer 04 Sportförderung gGmbH, with the two Football Association presidents Bernd Neuendorf (FVM) and Peter Frymuth (FVN) plus the Leverkusen city council representative Marc Adomat, have also decided that the applicants from the city of Leverkusen SV Schlebusch, SC Leverkusen 2017 and SSV Leverkusen-Alkenrath will receive material donation for training in their youth sections.
The award and associated prize money of €15,000 goes to particularly committed clubs from the Middle Rhine (FVM) and Lower Rhine (FVN) Football Associations. "Particularly at this time, the huge challenges facing volunteering in football are clear," said Fernando Carro, CEO at Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH and Bayer 04 Sportförderung gGmbH. "The great contribution that sport makes to our society would not be possible without the outstanding commitment of countless volunteers. We are grateful for that. The volunteering prize expresses our deepest recognition the commitment provided."
It is planned to invite the volunteers from all the clubs who have applied for the volunteering prize this season to a Bayer 04 Bundesliga home game. If and when this invitation can be made in the current Bundesliga season depends on current and future pandemic regulations.
SC Sparta Bardenberg (FVM) have set themselves the task of promoting respect on the football pitch. This project has been implemented in the form of conflict coaching and behaviour training. The courses are not exclusively aimed at the football players at the club but also at parents and fans. This approach off the pitch also paves the way for fair behaviour on the pitch. This is put into practice by teachers, therapists and martial artists. This brings to life the concepts of movement, team spirit, confidence, fun and success as the policy of the club.
A flourishing club culture is the trademark of Jugendsport Wenau 1957 (FVM). The wide-ranging sporting offer is open to all age groups. The youngest take part in football at the club as two-year-olds with 'futziball'. The oldest members have the opportunity to play walking football at a club in the community of Langerwehe. A disabled team as been an established part of the club for several years. The exemplary and successful youth work completes the profile of Jugendsport Wenau 1957. Beyond matches and training, club facilities are popular with the club members. The diversity in the club is a key part of life in the community of Langerwehe.
The Bocholt club TuB Mussum 1955 (FVN) have assumed a leading role in the area of inclusion. The 'Inclusion through sport ' project was established in cooperation with local partners. An in-house disabled section is an established part of club life. Over 60 club members now use the training on offer. The inclusive togetherness is also promoted away from the club, for example as part of festivities or community activities. The club has been supported in the implementation of the project by the Friends Association 'INKLUSIO 2018 e.v. and TuB Mussum 1955 have also set themselves the target making the club facilities barrier-free. The issue of inclusion is to remain a long-term established element of the club's identity.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen Sportförderung gGmbH was established in 2000 with the aim of promoting volunteering in football. With the help of the annual volunteering prize, up to 49 clubs to date from the Middle Rhine (FVM) and Lower Rhine (FVN) Football Associations have received financial support of over €200,000.


Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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SV Wehen Wiesbaden undoubtedly envisaged a different start to the new season. After two matchdays, the Hessen side currently sit bottom of the Liga 3 table. On Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), SVWW host the Werkself in the first round of the DFB Pokal at their home ground, the BRITA Arena. It was there, in this very competition a year ago, that the club almost pulled off a massive upset. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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