Norwich City Community Sports Foundation and Norfolk County Council to help unemployed with Street Life Soccer programme

Norfolk County Council's Chances programme has teamed up with Norwich City Football Club's Community Sports Foundation to launch a new programme for Chances participants. The Foundation's Street Life Soccer programme will support unemployed and inactive people using sport to engage participants.

In addition to this initiative, a match-funding deal has been finalised with the Foundation worth £550,000.

Cllr Graham Plant, Deputy Leader of Norfolk County Council and Cabinet Member for Growing the Economy, said: "We want Norfolk to be a place where no one is left behind and I'm very excited that Norfolk County Council is working with the Community Sports Foundation. This programme will be an effective way for people to get their confidence back and develop their skills.

"Despite the buoyancy of the job market, some people are still struggling. They may have been furloughed through the Covid-19 pandemic and then lost their jobs, be long-term unemployed or have health issues that have limited their options. Street Life Soccer could be the beginning of a journey to a new job or training opportunity."

Toby Nickerson, Community Development Manager for Norwich City Community Sports Foundation, said:

"We are grateful to have the support of Norfolk County Council's Chances programme for Street Life Soccer, which is one of our most impactful programmes. Using the power of Norwich City Football Club as an engagement tool, we really can inspire people to raise their aspirations and give them the skills and confidence to change their circumstances."

The programme will be delivered in four 20-week cohorts and will commence in April. The first cohort will be delivered in Norwich with a second one planned for Great Yarmouth. There is also potential for the programme to be available in Dereham, Thetford, King's Lynn and Swaffham.

Activities for Chances participants will be based on similar programmes run by the Foundation but will be adapted to the needs of each individual.

The programme uses sport to engage participants and provides new skills and qualifications using AQA accredited training. It also educates participants on relevant topics and supports positive mental wellbeing through social inclusivity. This approach supports progression into further education, volunteering, training or employment.

AQA Units will cover essential life skills such as budgeting skills, employability, handling conflict, self- evaluation, working as a team and CV writing.

All participants will have an action plan in place to ensure their personal aims and objectives are worked towards and achieved. Outcomes could include work experience, volunteering, further education and current employment opportunities.

Many of the people that the programme supports are referred by a range of bodies including voluntary, community and social organisations and job centre plus. Individuals who are keen to find out more are also welcome to contact the project team directly - contact details and further information are available at www.norfolk.gov.uk/chances.

For more information about the project visit www.norfolk.gov.uk/chances.

Many of the people that the programme supports are referred by a range of bodies including voluntary, community and social organisations and job centre plus. Individuals who are keen to find out more are also welcome to contact the project team directly - contact details and further information are available at www.norfolk.gov.uk/chances. 

The project, which officially started in April 2021, will run until September 2023. To date, more than 545 participants have been supported and 134 have now found employment.

European Social Fund

The Chances project is receiving up to £2,482.233 of funding from the European Social Fund as part of the 2014-2020 European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme in England. The Department for Work and Pensions (and in London the intermediate body Greater London Authority) is the Managing Authority for the England European Social Fund programme. Established by the European Union, the European Social Fund helps local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support skills development, employment and job creation, social inclusion and local community regenerations. This Project has been supported by New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, through the Growing Places Fund and Norfolk Community Foundation through Victory Housing Trust Community Fund.

Norwich City Community Sports Foundation

Norwich City Community Sports Foundation is the official charity of Norwich City Football Club. Their vision is to support and inspire the community, through their charitable objectives of driving inclusion for people with disabilities, boosting mental health and wellbeing, and inspiring disadvantaged people.