Story added: 20th June 2023
The two participants sharing their experiences in this case study did not wish to disclose their names. The photos used in this story are of their fellow Fresh Start participants, who consented to their usage.
Participant A has been in England for 18 months and lives in shared accommodation in Norwich.
He currently attends college and is working to increase his employability and help him find a job. Whilst his studies are of great importance, he wanted to continue to play football and stay active.
Fresh Start has given him the opportunity to stay active and build a community outside of his studies and search for work.
When asked what Fresh Start means to him, he said:
“Football makes me feel fresh and takes my worries away. It gives me great enjoyment and is good exercise.”
He also stressed that he enjoys the fact that “people come from many different countries to Fresh Start to all play football together”.
One of his fellow Fresh Start participants (B) has been in Norwich since 2018 and lives in a flat.
He is studying engineering at college and has gained a diploma in sport. He loves playing football and finds life difficult when he is unable to play.
He said:
“Football helps with my fitness and is a beautiful game to play.”
He has enjoyed meeting new people and made lots of friends and through attending Fresh Start and enjoys the free sessions, coming back to play every week.
Fresh Start is our free weekly football session for children and adult refugees in Norwich.
It is aimed at supporting refugees, asylum seekers and their families in Norfolk, through free weekly football sessions at Carrow Park, our facility next to Carrow Road.
The programme is made possible thanks to funding from the Norfolk Community Foundation.
19th April 2024
Josh Sargent, Ashley Barnes, Sam McCallum and Jacob Sørensen recently visited RAF Mildenhall's Youth Programme for an afternoon of fun.
9th April 2024
This summer, the EFL, EFL Trust and their network Club Community Organisations have partnered with Kellogg’s to launch the Kellogg’s Football Camps.
14th February 2024
12-year-old Anastasia was initially referred to our Realising Potential programme by Norfolk County Council in 2022, after spending an extended period of time out of the education system.
13th February 2024
17-year-old Kyle has been attending our Premier League Kicks sessions since 2020, after experiencing issues at home.
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.
Keep up-to-date with the latest news from the Foundation
