When the lights go off: Union raises money to fight homelessness in Brussels with new third kit
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise will regularly wear a third match outfit this season, a kit designed to bring hope to those in precarious situations. The all-black ‘black out’ kit, with the sponsors and the Nike logo also printed in black, is on sale in a limited edition of 1,000 copies (adult sizes only at first and only in our fan shop). Proceeds from each shirt sold will go to Union Inspires, the club's social foundation. With that money, Union Inspires will set up further activities with Hobo and other Brussels organisations that provide front-line assistance and/or shelter to homeless people.
Homelessness in Brussels
The homelessness problem has been on the rise in the Belgian capital in the last several years. More than 7,000 people in Brussels are homeless or in precarious housing situations, with the economic and COVID-19 crises being contributing factors.
Organisations like Hobo have been battling against homelessness in Brussels for years. They organise social, sports, cultural and educational activities throughout the week, whilst guide homeless people with employment. One of their aims is to also raise awareness for the issue, highlighting the fact that it is more than just not having a home.
Role models
Union does not want homeless people on the streets to be just ignored. When the lights go out, it gets dark, people are left on the streets in Brussels every night. With this campaign and this black out shirt, we want to highlight them and fight against homelessness with known local organisations. These are our local role models. People who create and support positive projects related to homelessness every day in our city.
Wouter Aesaert has been working for 1.5 years at Hobo, a day centre for homeless people in Brussels. Wouter and his colleagues offer activities, employment counselling, provide referrals to other specialised organisations and do awareness-raising to gain a better understanding of what homelessness means.
Small successes and the feedback I get from the target audience give me satisfaction. That feedback is and need not always be (clearly) visible or outspoken. They are moments of pride, of laughter, of seeing someone develop personally. And within the football project, I have the opportunity to follow up with people over a longer period of time. Seeing them play sports and sending them on their way after training, exhausted but satisfied, that too is satisfaction.
Together with Hobo, Union Inspires and Younited organise a weekly football training session for homeless people. The aim is to give structure, a regular appointment, and an outlet through football.
Coordinator and coach Wouter Blockx is in charge of the project from Union Inspires.
There is a saying that the way you speak to your players becomes their inner voice. So the most important asset I feel as a community coach is to bomb our participants with positivity. Think positive, stay positive, and eventually you will become positive.
Union player Noah Sadiki grew up in Brussels, knows his city and the issues surrounding homelessness. He supports Union and Union Inspires' action “When the lights go off”.
I saw and still see a lot of poverty in Brussels. We need to pay more attention to the people living on the streets. The new shirt will provide more visibility. More importantly, the money we will raise with it will be usefully spent on local organisations with experience in the field.
Mohamed is a community coach at Union Inspires, through Hobo he discovered the workings of Inspires. Among other things, he coaches our activities for seniors, coaches people with disabilities and motivates the children at our Union Cup.
Alone we can go very fast, together we can go further.
Presence in the local communities
The club has also been active in social projects in Saint-Gilles, Forest and other communes in Brussels under the Union Inspires umbrella. All the projects are based around the five pillars of Union Inspires' mission:
The new third shirt costs 80 euros and is currently only available in our fan shop. A maximum of two shirts per person can be purchased. We only sell the black-out shirt in our fanshop, because it is a local Brussels support action and this way we can raise more money per shirt for charity.
This week, the shop will also be open on Wednesday from 1pm for open training.
If the shirt goes on sale online, we will communicate this on our website and online channels.
All profits will be used to develop activities with Hobo asbl. And to financially support Hobo and other Brussels organisations working around homelessness. We will communicate about these actions and support through the club's online channels and Union Inspires.
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