Story added: 1st February 2023

Norwich City pledges support for young people

Pledge forms part of Norfolk Children & Young People Strategic Alliance's "Flourishing in Norfolk" strategy

Norwich City and the Community Sports Foundation have pledged to help local children and young people as part of Norfolk Children & Young People Strategic Alliance’s Flourishing in Norfolk strategy.

Local organisations were asked to make a pledge of support at the strategy’s launch in 2022, which the Foundation were delighted to host at their community hub, The Nest.

The Football Club and Foundation would like to take this opportunity to unveil our own pledge and some initial work.

Our pledge:

“We will respond to the needs of our community by providing mental health and well-being support for children and young people in Norfolk.”

To kick start that support the Foundation has launched a new youth club for 13-17 year olds at The Nest, giving access to a mental health first aid trained member of staff as well as activities such as pool, table football, and video games.

Young people can relax in the safe environment of The Nest’s engage space, with the staff members on hand to listen to any worries or questions. The project is known as Ahead of the Game and places may be booked here.

In addition, March will see the return of Active Canaries health month, which will help thousands of primary school children improve their wellbeing through online assemblies and healthy eating.

The assemblies focus on the importance of physical activity, nutrition, hydration, sleep, and mental health, while those who have school dinners get to sample four healthy meals chosen by Norwich City players and developed by the team’s chef Dan Savage.

Children are also provided with a recipe card for each of the healthy meals so that they may recreate them at home.

Active Canaries also includes a six-week intervention programme to target the health and well-being of young people in Norfolk.

Much like the health month topics, these sessions focus on physical activity, nutrition, hydration, sleep, and mental health, but are delivered in person by the Foundation team.

Norwich City’s Executive Director Zoe Webber underlined the club’s commitment to helping children and young people:

“We feel that we are well-placed to have a positive impact on local children and young people and have great pride in formalising our commitment with a Flourish pledge.

“Last year’s Active Canaries health month had huge engagement numbers, and we expect this year’s edition to reach even more children so that we can help to improve their wellbeing.”

The Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Ian Thornton OBE said:

“The Active Canaries programme allows us to reach large numbers of children and young people, but it also sees us provide additional targeted support for children and families in particular need. This is where real impact can be made.

“One of the driving forces for us to build our community hub The Nest was to create an environment for children and young people where they could feel safe, while improving their wellbeing and aspirations.

“The youth club is the type of project we always imagined hosting at The Nest and it will help those who come along to have a great time and talk about anything they need to with a trained member of the team.”

Sara Tough, Chair of the Norfolk Children and Young People Strategic Alliance said:

“I am delighted that Norwich City FC and the Foundation have pledged to help Norfolk’s children and young people flourish.

“Both are very influential in the county, have a high profile, and do lots already to promote the health and welfare of our children and young people.

“Having them on board will provide a massive boost to our ambition to see all of Norfolk’s children and young people flourish.

“Since its launch in May last year the Flourishing in Norfolk strategy has really taken off. Over 150 organisations have signed up and made a pledge, with many more pledges in the pipeline.

“It would be fantastic now if more organisations followed their lead, got in touch, and made a pledge.”

More details about the strategy are available here