2025 Impact Report
Chairperson’s Welcome
What continues to inspire me about the Foundation is the determined mindset running through it and a shared desire to always want to do better. In a year that has been tough for so many, that mindset has really mattered. Reaching more than 56,000 participants across 11,400 sessions is something to be incredibly proud of, but what sits behind those numbers is what is really worth celebrating.
The trust that’s been built, the consistency of showing up, and the strength of the relationships across Norfolk is better than ever. Being recognised as EFL Community Club of the Year 2025 was a brilliant moment both as an accolade, and as a reflection of the connection between the Club and the community. Seeing players give their time, engage with the community and bring energy into our programmes continues to make a real difference.
The continued growth of the Realising Potential programme has enabled more people with disabilities to access opportunities, build self-confidence,
and feel a genuine sense of belonging. This kind of real impact is exactly why the Foundation was created.
The Nest is another example of what’s possible when you create the right environment. With over 20,000 unique visitors in 2025, it’s become far more than just a facility. It’s a place where people come together, connections are formed, and opportunity lives. The ambition to take it even further is something I’m incredibly excited about.
But none of this happens without the collective effort behind it. Without our participants, partners, funders, volunteers, fundraisers and staff, the Foundation doesn’t exist. You make this Foundation what it is and I’m incredibly grateful for the role each of you plays in helping us make a difference.
Jake Humphrey Foundation Chairperson
Our purpose
Sport connects people — and it has the power to change lives.
Through our work, we reach deep into our communities to offer support, opportunity and belonging to those who need it most. We continue to develop programmes that use the social and physical benefits of sport to improve wellbeing, strengthen confidence, and bring people together.
In 2025, we expanded our efforts to support those facing challenges, helping them build new skills, raise their aspirations and feel part of something bigger. From inclusive sessions to targeted wellbeing support, we’re committed to offering accessible, affordable programmes that make a genuine difference.
56,188 unique participants
11,400 sessions delivered
Working alongside such partners as Norse, we’ve achieved some incredible things. Every connection made, every step forward, every moment of progress reinforces why this work is so important.
Together, we’re helping to create positive change across Norfolk.
Every pound invested in our activities generates significant economic, social, and environmental value for local communities – this is the essence of our social impact. In the 24/25 season, we generated a staggering social value of over £58 million*
856,566 hours of engagement
£58m social value of our positive impact*
2025 in review
January
We kicked off the year with the opening of our brand‑new Healthy Fans Support Hub at Carrow Road, offering vital health and wellbeing support to hundreds of fans on matchdays.
February
The Nest celebrated the opening of its latest additions — The Box, our state‑of‑the‑art health and wellbeing facility, and The Store, a fresh new retail space for our community.
March
We secured an incredible £90,000 from Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations to launch MyClub, our new volunteer programme transforming how local people can get involved. We also celebrated Down Syndrome Head Coach Clive Howard, who received the Premier League Community Captain Award for his remarkable dedication to disability football.
April
A huge month of recognition: Norwich City was named EFL Community Club of the Season, highlighting the reach and impact of our work. City defender Jack Stacey was also honoured as EFL Community Player of the Season for his outstanding volunteering efforts.
May
Our Football & Education Girls cohort made history, becoming the first Norwich City FE group to win their league — a proud milestone for the programme.
June-July
An inspiring summer of fundraising challenges saw supporters tackle everything from Race Against the Sun to the Norfolk Public Sector Challenge and the mighty Three Peaks. Their determination — and every penny raised — helped us continue changing lives.
August
A special visitor delighted participants at The Nest as two‑time European champion Lauren Hemp made a surprise appearance at our Girls Only Soccer School, creating memories that will last a lifetime.
September
November
December
Run Norwich returned for its 10th anniversary — and a record breaking 7,800 runners filled the city streets with energy, achievement and celebration (in front of a whopping 25k spectators.)
We launched our all new Youth Voice Council, giving young people a real platform to shape their community and ask: “How can we make a positive impact together?”
We rounded off the year with the relaunch of our disability and SEND provision as Realising Potential — a programme shaped by the voices of staff, participants and carers, and built for the future.
Charity finance
In
£6,429,565
We aim to have a diverse range of income to safeguard the charity’s sustainability and achieve our vision. Any surplus made through project delivery is invested back into our charitable objectives and future development of The Nest.
Charitable objectives
Our participants
485,501
Total attendances
82%
participants recorded improvements in their physical health
9.3/10 overall staff rating
76%
participants recorded improvements in their mental wellbeing
participants would recommend their programme 94%
participants made new friends/connections 86%
9.1 /10 overall rating of our programmes
87% participants recorded improvements in their mood
participants stated that the Foundation has had a positive impact on their lives 87%
“He came out looking proud, happy, valued, and liked which means everything to us.”
Parent of participant
Our people
From new recruits to colleagues marking major milestones, our people embody who we are: committed, purposeful, and united in inspiring progress and positive change.
Graham Lewis, Ryan Jarvis and Paul Holmes reached an impressive 10 years of service
Paul Knowles marked 15 years working for the Foundation
Emma Fletcher achieved an extraordinary 20 year's service with the Foundation
Our supporters
Looking ahead
ONE TEAM, ONE COMMUNITY
As we look ahead to 2026, it’s inspiring to see how much our community continues to give. We’re already planning a summer of fundraising challenges, and every person who takes one on makes a real difference. These challenges are more than personal achievements — they help transform lives. Every pound raised supports programmes like Realising Potential, helping people with disabilities and SEND to build confidence, connection and opportunity.
We’ll also begin the year by recognising the incredible volunteers who make the Foundation what it is. Our inaugural Foundation Awards will celebrate the people whose dedication, energy and kindness shape our work every day.
There’s plenty to look forward to. Construction of new Padel courts will begin soon at The Nest, expanding our facilities and creating more ways for people to get active. We’ll welcome even more first-time footballers and
continue supporting talented young players on their journey. Across our education programmes, we’ll be guiding students through exams, preparing them for employment and helping them build the skills they need to thrive. We’ll also launch Boots For Change, our new boot‑recycling campaign to ensure everyone has access to kit.
Next summer, a group of FE students will travel to Milwaukee and Chicago for a two‑week educational experience — an unforgettable opportunity for all involved.
Thank you to everyone who supports us. Your commitment truly makes a difference.
Ian Thornton OBE, Chief Executive Officer Norwich City Community Sports Foundation
Sustainability
The 2024–25 financial year marked an important milestone in our sustainability journey, as The Nest calculated its carbon footprint for the first time. The total footprint for the year was 93.91 tonnes CO2e, covering Scope 1, Scope 2, and selected Scope 3 emissions (waste and staff commuting). This figure aligns with expected emissions for a community facility of this size and gives us a clear baseline from which to plan future reductions.
Our commitment to generating clean energy continued throughout the year. The Nest’s solar array produced 16,449 kWh of renewable electricity — enough to power four average UK homes for a full year, or the equivalent energy required to manufacture approximately
1,600 footballs. This generation significantly reduces our reliance on grid electricity. We also introduced a Single Use Plastic Policy at The Nest, formalising our commitment to reducing unnecessary plastic consumption across our facilities and events.
Alongside this, we continued to expand our Deadwood biodiversity habitat zone, creating additional ecological value on site and providing new habitats that support local wildlife and nature recovery.
Together, these actions lay strong foundations for the environmental strategy we will continue to build on.
