Norwich City FC launch hospital visiting scheme

Norwich City Football Club have teamed up with Norwich Union to launch an innovative new scheme called ‘Canaries For The Community’.

The first phase of the scheme will see volunteer Duncan MacInnes visiting patients at the city’s University Hospital, with videos of all the latest Canary news and views to show them on a laptop.

And in the summer an army of volunteers from the scheme’s sponsors Norwich Union and Norwich City Football Club will embark on a range of specially-selected community projects in Norfolk.

Norwich City Director of Sales and Marketing Andrew Cullen commented: “We are extremely privileged to enjoy such outstanding support from the Norfolk community and we expect that the hospital visits and volunteer projects will bring the Football Club, supporters and the local community even closer together. 

“We are very grateful that Norwich Union, another great Norfolk institution, has seen fit to support us for the next two years with the development of this unique project.”

John Ainley, HR director for Norwich Union Insurance, said: “We are delighted to sponsor Canaries for the Community and offer our staff the opportunity to get involved. Norwich Union is keen to support the local community and we are looking forward to working with Norwich City Football Club on this exciting new initiative.”

Duncan has already visited 50 patients to help them stay in touch with City’s exciting play-off charge, using a package of match highlights and interviews from the Club’s official website video news service CanariesWorld.

One of the patients who has enjoyed having the latest football news brought to her bedside is 37-year-old Yvonne Howes of Costessey, who is recovering from a recent terrifying road crash ordeal which saw her trapped in her car by the A47 for six hours.

Duncan said: “Yvonne is really into her football and enjoyed the chance to watch some match action and have a chat about the game in general.

“So far the scheme has been going very well indeed. The children and younger patients really enjoy the mix of football and technology – and older supporters have appreciated a chance to watch matches from years gone by on the Club’s official Centenary DVD.”