Chloe takes the Canaries to Parliament

Chloe Smith, Member of Parliament for Norwich North, has today launched a Parliamentary motion jointly with Norwich City FC and Football in the Community (FITC) to celebrate their work in the local area.

Chloe has led an Early Day Motion (EDM) in recognition of the work done by the Canaries through their Football in the Community (FITC) programme. The launch will take place at George White Junior School, Silver Road on Wednesday 27th January at 9.15.

Chloe recently tabled the EDM - her first Motion - in Parliament and has been encouraging her Westminster colleagues to sign it in recognition of the importance of work done by the Football League Trust at Norwich City and 71 other UK football clubs. MPs from all major parties have signed up to its positive message.

FITC is based at Norwich City Football Club and is a football and sports charity that aims to improve the health, social esteem, and skills of Children and Adults across Norfolk & North Suffolk. Receiving national awards from the FA for soccer schools, the FITC programme reaches 70,000 children and adults per year. It also helps to coach football at many schools, community groups and voluntary organisations. Local schools involved in the scheme include Firside Junior School, George White Junior School and Hillside Primary School.

The EDM notes: ‘the work of Football League clubs in delivering positive outcomes on major social issues such as health, education, social cohesion and sports participation to more than 1.5 million people in the last 12 months; and recognises that the power of football is being used to improve the local community' at Carrow Road and 71 other clubs.

Commenting on the launch, Chloe said:

"I am proud of the work that Norwich City FC and FITC do together. Norwich has always been a football-loving city, but it's not just Carrow Road. Hundreds of youngsters have been engaged by the community work that the Canaries support. The power of football is impressive and we should recognise the many adults and young people who work and volunteer together on these projects in the city and the county.

"I am pleased to have been able to draw this work to the attention of Parliament and gain congratulation for the achievements of Norwich and Football in the Community from across the UK."

Ian Thornton, Director of FITC added: "We are delighted to have been recognised in this way by Parliament. It is a major boost for the Football in the Community team who work tirelessly seven days a week to improve the lives of people in and around Norwich. Chloe and her colleagues have seen at first hand the work we do and the results we have had, and we look forward to working closely with them going forward".