Children who end up excluded from school are more likely to be vulnerable to childhood criminal exploitation.
In 2019, the Metropolitan Police identified Norfolk as the area with the most young people involved in ‘County Lines’ – where illegal drugs are transported from one area to another by gangs or criminal networks.
The Community Sports Foundation uses the power of sport and Norwich City Football Club as the tools to engage with harder to reach groups and individuals and inspire them to raise their aspirations and reach their potential.
Several of our programmes in this area rely on match-fundraising so that we are able to tackle these issues in Norfolk.
Our work, which includes the Premier League Kicks programme, provides sports sessions and educational workshops on subjects such as knife crime and childhood criminal exploitation.
There are also incentives for young people who engage particularly well with the programme such as the opportunity to take part in representative fixtures and competitions.
As well as disadvantaged local young people, some of our work uses football as a tool to help asylum seekers and refugees to make social connections in their new home city.
Participants also have the chance to take part in volunteering opportunities to develop skills and boost their employability.
In December we hosted 60 young people from across all of our Premier League Kicks sessions at The Nest to celebrate our ‘World Football Day’ with Foundation partners, Sinclair.
This is just one of a number of examples of the work our Kicks programme does to combat exclusion and anti-social behaviour.
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Without vital fundraising, our work would not be possible, and many across Norfolk would be deprived of our support.
There are many ways that you can help us to sustain our work, such as taking a fundraising challenge, becoming a donor, or supporting through your business.
How you can help
When you donate a little each month, you will be helping to transform the lives of local people of all ages who need our support – giving them the opportunity to connect with others like them, feel happier and healthier in themselves, and raise their aspirations.
We have Soccer Schools running at venues across Norfolk & Suffolk, and whether participants are new to football, or are already a budding Canary superstar, the Soccer Schools programme has been put together to provide a fun, holiday activity at an affordable price.
As Norwich City Football Club's official charity partner, we help thousands of people every year achieve their goals through sport, supporting some of the most disadvantaged, disabled and talented people across Norfolk. Our vision is to support, inspire, and improve our community.
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