Story added: 13th September 2018
CSF Trustee and TV Presenter Jake Humphrey, and Norwich City first team player Louis Thompson were among the guests that visited The Nest on Thursday morning, to mark the official opening of phase one.
The rejuvenated site has seen extensive work completed on seven grass football pitches, as well as the renovation of the existing clubhouse, and the installation of residential bunk boxes.
Recent weeks have seen the first participants use The Nest; over 2,000 people have already enjoyed the pitches and clubhouse, including young footballers on a special Grant Holt Soccer School.
CSF were awarded a £495,000 grant from the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund towards phase one of the project. The Foundation worked alongside the Football Foundation and the Norfolk County FA to compile a five-year Football Development Plan, which is a vision of how sport will be played on site with an emphasis on increasing participation.
After a tour of The Nest’s facilities, the 150 people in attendance at the launch were given a presentation by Jake, and Jackie Thornton of the Community Sports Foundation, which told of the Foundation’s plans for a second phase of development costing £9.4million and the need for financial support from potential funders and fundraisers.
The new Build The Nest campaign video, kindly provided by Built Environment Communications Group (BECG), received its first screening, and just before the ribbon was cut, the room heard from David Elvin, a parent of CSF participant Ollie, who has completed 100 miles on his exercise bike to raise money for the Build The Nest campaign, all while battling Leukaemia.
Jackie Thornton said:
“We’ve taken a disused sports facility and breathed new life into it, creating a hub that will be of great value to the community.
“We’re hugely grateful for the support of the Premier League & The FA Facilities Fund, which has played a significant part in bringing this phase of the project to life.
“Now, the emphasis is really on our work to secure the funds for the second phase of The Nest, which will help the Foundation reach an extra 12,000 people a year, when completed.”
To find out more about the plans for phase two, and how you could help the campaign, please click here.
"Now, the emphasis is really on our work to secure the funds for the second phase of The Nest, which will help the Foundation reach an extra 12,000 people a year, when completed."
Jackie Thornton
Head of Development, CSF
20th March 2024
Ex-soldier Del Sullivan is preparing to walk 26 miles per day for 10 consecutive days to raise money for the Foundation and military charity On Course Foundation.
16th March 2024
On Thursday 14th March, teams from across Eastern England attended The Nest for the U11's Girls Premier League Primary Stars regional tournament.
26th October 2023
Earlier this week, The Nest hosted the second annual instalment of the Girls’ Canary Cup, welcoming travelling teams from across the country.
18th August 2023
This week saw four days of Canary Cup action take place at The Nest.
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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