When our team bus pulls up, boarding is usually reserved for our Red Bull players. Recently, however, the spotlight was on around 25 girls and boys, along with their families and guardians, from Sonneninsel Seekirchen and the SOS Children's Village located there. Under the motto of Talents Hand in Hand, the Red Bull Academy opened its doors for a day that went way beyond football.

At FC Red Bull Salzburg, sporting development and social responsibility go hand in hand. As a partner of Porsche's youth development programme Turbo for Talents, we are actively promoting initiatives that have an impact beyond the football pitch. With the Talents Hand in Hand initiative, we are raising awareness among our young players about issues such as inclusion and social engagement, and showing them through personal encounters how important solidarity and responsibility are off the field.

Insights behind the scenes and a special surprise

The children from Sonneninsel Seekirchen were amazed when they arrived at the camp to find a dressing room prepared especially for them, complete with a full Bulls Camp training kit for each of them. Then came the first highlight of the day in the large indoor soccer hall. The U18 academy players had planned activities with the coaching staff beforehand, which they then completed together with the children. Whether in 4-on-4 matches, the shooting challenge, the dribbling course, or football golf – the joy of playing football was evident on everyone's face.

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The young guests then continued with a behind-the-scenes tour of the academy. Meanwhile, our U18 talents had an exciting activity. In a workshop, they learned about the work of Sonneninsel and the SOS Children's Village. This exchange is an integral part of our talents' training, broadening the players' perspective beyond the pitch and making social responsibility accessible. The day concluded with a shared lunch in the academy dining hall.

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Who are Sonneninsel and the SOS Children's Village?

The Sonneninsel in Seekirchen near Salzburg is a psychosocial aftercare centre for families with seriously or chronically ill children. It offers free stays with individually tailored programmes for rest, recuperation, and reintegration into daily life. The centre is financed exclusively through donations.

The SOS Children's Village has been providing a loving and stable home for children and young people who cannot live with their families of origin since 1964. In family-like settings with SOS Children's Village mothers or fathers, the children grow up in a protected environment and receive individualised support.

Talents Hand in Hand: U18 have special visit