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The Community Sports Foundation recognises the unique obligations and sacrifices made by the Armed Forces and are committed to supporting the servicemen and women, reservists, veterans, service families and cadets of the Armed Forces Community in Norfolk.
Our aim is to:
"There’s nothing better than meeting with like-minded individuals, in an environment where age has no bearing, and you can reminisce about service life, make new friends, and of course, grasp the opportunity to stoke up some inter-service banter!"
Phil Coates
Veteran, Coffee & Comrade Participant
We regularly interact with a growing number of the Armed Forces community and are always looking to develop our activity. Use the dropdown/tabs below to find out more.
We host an annual Armed Forces Day with activities and participation for the Armed Forces Community.
The day involves a range of fun activities such as football and tug of war, with prizes, entertainment and a parade, children’s activities, exhibitions, raffles and food.
Also involved on Armed Forces Day at The Nest are Force2Canaries, a social support group for serving and ex-serving Forces men and women who share the same passion for supporting Norwich City Football Club.
Our next Armed Forces Day will be held on Saturday, June 28th 2025
Book hereOur regular monthly coffee morning offers an opportunity for veterans and serving personnel to meet up, providing a vital time and space to share the experiences and challenges that can accompany life after during and after service.
Coffee and Comrades is held on the last Friday of the month at The Nest.
Book hereAs a Forces friendly employer, we proudly promote we are an Armed Forces-friendly organisation to our staff, customers and wider public through our annual Armed Forces Day event, and on military anniversaries throughout the year such as VE Day, VJ Day and Remembrance Day.
We also explore and introduce wellbeing projects and programmes that will benefit our Armed Forces Community. As part of upholding the Covenant, we pledge to promote and support our Armed Forces Community wherever and however we can and that members of the Armed Forces Community will not face any disadvantage in the services we provide.
We know that members of the Armed Forces community bring a wealth of transferable skills and experiences to employers across the United Kingdom.
We are proud signatories to the Armed Forces Covenant and hold the Defence Employers Recruitment Scheme Bronze Award, demonstrating our levels of commitment. We are actively working towards the silver award.
The covenant is an employer recognition scheme that acknowledges employers that provide exceptional support to the Armed Forces community.
If you would like to get involved or have suggestions, please contact [email protected]
Discover how Ivan Sadd, a veteran and now a dedicated volunteer with MyClub, shares the impact of connecting with the Foundation —and how volunteering has given him a meaningful way to give back.
About MyClub
‘As a retired veteran, I attended the Military Veterans coffee morning hosted by the Foundation at the Nest as an outlet for my mental wellbeing. At that time, I had lost some ‘purpose’ since leaving the military, my network of friends now far away.
Listening to the presentations, I soon realised that the Foundation, being a foundation charity, relied heavily on volunteering efforts. I had been lucky enough to have been involved with service football in the Royal Navy and did my coaching badges while serving in the RN. However, my football circle was within the RN and now I’m no longer a part of that. I missed it!
So, after the presentations, I saw an opportunity and thought ‘Go for it!’………so, on instinct, presented myself to the Foundation host, Tom and explained my football background and asked if I could be of any help.
The Foundation took me up on my offer of help and since the new year, I have enjoyed being involved with a weekly football event called ‘Team Talk’ driven towards mental health and wellbeing. I am able to utilise both my football and military experience to help drive these sessions alongside Foundation staff. The walking football games help participants ‘let off a bit of steam’ via physical exercise as well as improving their mental health. We get to listen and chat over a cup of tea at the end of the session and if necessary, we can direct anybody with any issues to trained welfare staff.
So what’s the payoff? It’s good for my own mental and physical health but just as importantly gives me back a sense of duty and purpose that I felt I had lost.’ I’ve also started to make good friends with both participants and staff (although they do claim some of my refereeing decisions can sometimes be dubious!)
"The Community Sports Foundation is a truly outstanding charity and a real asset to the military community here in Norfolk. Whether it’s supporting veterans, those currently serving, or our families, their work makes a genuine difference to people’s lives. As someone still serving, I’ve seen first-hand how inclusive, uplifting, and impactful their programmes are — and I’m proud to act as an ambassador for a charity that continues to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our community."
Group Captain Peak, RAF
Community Sports Foundation Armed Forces Ambassador
