Project Title:
Virtues and Leadership Unlocked through Engaging Sport (VALUES)
Overview:
VALUES is a transnational initiative under the Erasmus+ Sport 2025 action (Project No. 101245989), co-funded by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
Recognizing sport as a powerful catalyst for character development, gender equality, and social inclusion, VALUES focuses on empowering adolescent female athletes by integrating essential personal and social values into grassroots sport practice. The project will establish and implement the “Sport for Values” Quality Mark, a certification framework used to recognize and guide sports organizations in delivering inclusive, ethical, and values-driven coaching methodologies.
Aligned with Erasmus+ priorities on inclusion, education through sport, and the promotion of European values, VALUES will strengthen organizational capacities, support coach development, and contribute to a more supportive and responsible sporting environment for young women across Europe. The project aims to build a replicable and scalable model adaptable to diverse sports and community contexts.
Key Objectives:
- Establish the “Sport for Values” Quality Mark to identify and promote organizations fostering values-based learning and inclusion.
- Develop and deliver coach education resources that integrate leadership development, character-building, and positive values into daily coaching practice.
- Strengthen the capacity and sustainability of grassroots sport clubs to create athlete-centered environments that promote long-term engagement and well-being.
- Promote the dissemination and exchange of best practices across partner countries to contribute to the wider development of European grassroots sport.
- Empower female athletes to develop confidence, leadership skills, and ethical behavior through structured sports participation.
Main Activities:
- Development of the Sport for Values Quality Mark certification framework and implementation guidelines.
- Coach development activities including training modules, workshops, and mentoring sessions.
- Piloting and validation of values-based coaching practices within grassroots sport clubs.
- Evaluation and recognition of clubs progressing toward Quality Mark certification status.
- Dissemination of project results through media, events, and knowledge-sharing processes at local and European levels.
Target Groups:
- Grassroots sport organizations and coaching staff.
- Adolescent female athletes engaged in local sports programs.
- Stakeholders and practitioners involved in sport, youth development, and inclusion.
- Wider community actors supporting youth participation and well-being.
Partnership & Coordination:
The project involves a committed consortium of four partners:
- SK VOLLEY (Serbia) – coordinator
- INSTITUT IMPACT (Slovenia)
- Sirvintu sporto klubas (Lithuania)
- Physical Activity and Sports Tech for Healthy Lifestyles – PASTECHL (Montenegro)
Project Duration and Budget:
- Start Date: 1 November 2025
- Duration: 24 months
- Funding Programme: Erasmus+ Sport
- Funding Agency: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA)
- Grant Amount: €120,000.00
Relevance and Impact:
VALUES advances the role of sport in promoting inclusion, positive personal development, and gender equality. The project strengthens the educational and community function of grassroots sport while providing a sustainable model for empowering young female athletes. Through recognition mechanisms, improved coaching practices, and cross-border collaboration, VALUES contributes to long-term athlete engagement, ethical sport environments, and alignment with European values and priorities in sport.
Keywords:
Values-based sport, grassroots sport, coach education, gender equality, youth leadership, inclusion, certification system, European values, athlete development, sport integrity