January
A new year, a new kit! The Foundation started the year with a kit giveaway, helping to support hundreds of disadvantaged participants with sporting clothing and equipment. The giveaway didn’t just help those in Norfolk – orphans in a deprived area of Rio de Janeiro also benefitted from the giveaway.
February
Pitch-perfect students from Open Academy qualified for the Premier League Enterprise Challenge Final, after emerging victorious at the regional final held at the Emirates Stadium in London. The team impressed the judges with their strategy to encourage fans to spend more on a match day.
Kicks participants enjoyed a 5-a-side Premier League Kicks tournament in Bolton, while a Fit4it Junior Camp helped over 30 youngsters stay active and learn about healthy lifestyles.
March
A Wish Day at Colney provided a memorable surprise for children with a range of disabilities to meet their City heroes. Expecting only a tour of the facility, the group were surprised with visits from the whole Norwich City FC first-team squad.
Rio-bound CSF ambassador and British Paralympian champ Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE visited CSF’s Extra-Time session.
April
A rousing welcome for the both the Norwich City and Newcastle United’s Down’s Syndrome team on the pitch at half-time during the club’s Premier League fixture, helped mark the conclusion of Community Week, the chance to celebrate CSF’s work in the community.
Meanwhile, youngsters on the Kicks programme travelled to Nottingham for the annual Kicks Cup, while three runners Lewis Plowman, Ed Guichard & Lewis Blois & raised close to £6,000 at the Virgin London Marathon. Over 100 pupils attended a PL Reading Stars event hosted by CSF at Carrow Road.
May
Captains Jim Chapman and Calum Best were supported by ex-City legends Grant Holt & Adam for the fourth Jamie’s Game celebrity soccer match at Carrow Road. Cheered on by a crowd of over 7,800, the celebrities – with new faces including TOWIE’s ‘Arg’ and YouTube sensation Marcus Butler – played out a highly enjoyable 10-goal thriller.
We took pupils from two local schools to Goodison Park for the Premier League schools tournament, and City’s Powerchair team, which is supported by CSF, tasted silverware as they were crowned champions of the Wheelchair Football Association League SE Division 2.
Twenty fundraisers conquered The Three Peaks Challenge for CSF, while the Boys’ and Girls’ Youth Development Programmes clocked up the miles with their residential tours, taking their groups to Liverpool & the North-West, Lincolnshire, Kent and Essex.
June
Eighty-five walkers fought the notorious aches, pains and cramps of the Coastal Walk Challenge, helping to raise £20,000 while completing an arduous 48-miles in 24-hours along the Norfolk coastline.
Lights off, day-glo, action! A glow-in-the-dark handball tournament at the UEA Sportspark was the eye-catching centre-piece of our Premier League 4 Sport festival – four local high-schools joined us for the fun.
July
A tournament record 250 youth teams played in this year’s Summer Cup, our two-day festival of football at Easton & Otley College. Russell Martin & John Ruddy were among those soaking up the atmosphere, while the team honours were split out among six different clubs.
The season finished for the Futsal scholars with three of the four sides winning their respective EFL Trust Futsal divisions. The ‘A-team’ came close to the national title, but lost out to Grimsby Town in the final.
August
Hot, sweaty but utterly memorable was the general consensus, as runners took to the streets of Norwich city centre for our second Run Norwich 10km event. Delia Smith had the honour of fire the starting gun for our 4,200 runners and the route this year took in the stunning Cathedral grounds. Over 20% of the runners experienced their first ever taste of an organised run, while Nick Earl and Tracy Barlow retained their titles.
A group of CSF participants with disabilities experienced the once-in-a-lifetime chance to take part in a Norwich City FC training session at Carrow Road. Highlights included a small-sided match, and the subsequent penalty shoot-out.
August is peak Soccer School time, and surprising some of the participants with visits were City’s Steven Whittaker, Graham Dorrans, Wes Hoolahan and City boss Alex Neil.
September
Over 700 participants on the National Citizen Service (NCS) celebrate their achievements at a series of graduation balls. Jake Humphrey presented students with their certificates and commended them for the hours they put in on their social-action projects.
Tee-off at the Dean Ashton Golf Day raised over £3,000 for the Foundation at the Marriott Spowston Manor golf course.
October
Graham Dorrans, Sebastien Bassong and Alex Pritchard all saw the Foundation’s school sports programmein action with school visits.
Students from Hub school Stalham High School represented the club at a national Premier League 4 SportHandball tournament.
November
City chief executive Jez Moxey was the guest at our Inspiration Day, a chance for students on our PL Enterprise programme to visit Carrow Road and learn about the business behind football.
On the Buzzer, City! returned with over forty teams in attendance, and girls from Aylsham High clinched the Schools Cup and with it the chance to represent the Canaries in the Kinder+ EFL Girls Cup in 2017.
James Earley, a Street Life Soccer participant, was selected to captain England in the Homeless FA European Street Festival. James stayed in luxury accommodation and, in his words, “experienced things I never thought I would before”.
December
Norwich City first-team players visited three children’s wards at local hospitals over the Christmas period, including the N&N and the James Paget hospital.
A Wish Day welcomed two young fans with autism to Carrow Road, while two young disability players were selected for an FA Talent Camp.
"It's been another memorable twelve months here at the Foundation"
Ian Thornton
Chief Executive
17th April 2025
Last Friday was all go at The Nest, as six representative CCO teams took to the pitches for the Premier League Kicks Cup.
19th March 2025
The Community Sports Foundation is delighted to announce that Chaplin Farrant have officially come on board as a Foundation partner, sponsoring Norwich City’s Cerebral Palsy Football Team
11th March 2025
For International Women's Day 2025 we hosted a special event at The Nest for girls from local schools.
7th February 2025
The Foundation's Girls' Football & Education team will host the NFYL League Cup semi-final at The Nest on Wednesday, 12th of February as they look to build on a successful season.
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.
Ready for an adventure? Join us this July for the Three Peaks Challenge and help support the incredible work of the Community Sports Foundation. This is your chance to conquer the UK’s most iconic mountains, Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon – all in one unforgettable weekend.
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
