Norwich City FC FITC joins Football League ‘Building Healthier Communities’ Campaign

On Friday, Norwich City FC Football in the Community played a key role in launching a campaign by The Football League Trust aimed at improving the health of local communities.

The launch was held at stadiummk, home of MK Dons, and was attended by Mike Penning MP, the Shadow Minister for Health.  The Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead gave his full backing to the health initiatives in place at Norwich City FC Football in the Community and congratulated the community team for their dedication to making a difference.

‘Building Healthier Communities' is an umbrella campaign that will focus all future health work of the Trust and representatives of Norwich City FC Football in the Community attended to highlight the vital work they are doing in Norwich.

Working with over 1.5 million people a year, the Football League Trust, a charity tasked with overseeing the community work of League clubs, uses the power of football to solve some of the big social issues of the day and to improve the communities it works within.

In the health area, Football League clubs already work to deliver projects on: drugs and alcohol abuse; sexual health awareness; mental health; ethnic minority health schemes; smoking cessation; improving access to health services; reducing heart disease; combating obesity and improving health eating; and raising awareness of general health campaigns.

The Trust has now committed to targeting even more future health projects as it seeks to build healthier communities.

Dave Edmundson, General Manager of the Trust, speaking at the event, said: "The Football League Trust is committed to building healthier communities around each one of our 72 clubs in England and Wales.  Our activities already reach over 1.5 million individuals across England and Wales and we are determined to build on this success with a real focus on improving the health of our communities."

Mike Penning MP, Shadow Health Minister, who attended the launch of the campaign at MK Dons, said: "The Football League is incredibly successful in its work to improve the health of its local communities. I warmly welcome its commitment to build on that success by launching the ‘Building healthier communities' campaign. League clubs are at the heart of their communities and it is fitting that they are using the undoubted power of football to tackle the big social issues of the day."

Ian Thornton, Director of Norwich City FC Football in The Community said " We are very supportive of the Football League's campaign in "building healthier communities'' through our various health focused programmes. We have health-focused initiatives that range from Sporty Tots course for two and three year olds to our Over 55's Extra Time project.  Not only are all the participants leading an active life through our programmes that are making new friends, learning news skills and above all else, enjoying themselves''

For further information on any of the Football in the Community health programmes then please contact FITC Health Development Officer on 01603 761122 or email [email protected]