Sportspark, based at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, has made a donation of £845 to the Norwich & Central Norfolk branch of Mind.

Mind provide mental health support and services to the local community and are proud sponsors of Tiger Football Club, which was formed with the support of their Social Inclusion services and is made up of players who arrived in Norfolk from war-torn, impoverished countries.

Through Sportspark’s Charity Spinner scheme, which was relaunched in October this year, Sportspark customers offer small donations in return for copies of the Eastern Daily Press and Norwich Evening News. As part of the relaunch customers and members of the community were invited to nominate a charity that would receive the collected donations – Norwich & Central Norfolk Mind were the first charity chosen.

Each year Norwich & Central Norfolk Mind provide over 40,000 sessions of support to more than 2,500 individuals from a diverse range of backgrounds, as well as supporting local community projects like Tiger Football Club, which was recently shortlisted for The Forum Community Club of the Year Award.

Club secretary, Godfrey Beya said: “We would like to thank Sportspark most sincerely for their generous donation. We rely on the goodwill of so many people to continue to make a difference and this money will go towards our continued efforts to support the local community”.

Sportspark Director, Phil Steele, said: “We are proud to support the vital work that Norwich & Central Norfolk Mind does for the local community. Sportspark is committed to supporting local charities and groups and would, once again, like to thank our customers for their continued support with this initiative”.

Sportspark are still welcoming nominations for local charities to benefit from their monthly Charity Spinner Appeal. November’s charity, in association with national Anti-Bullying Month, is Red Balloon Norwich, who provide a safe environment for young people unable to attend mainstream school as a result of severe bullying.

Photograph of Phil Steele, Sportspark Director, presenting the cheque to Godfrey Beya and Patrick Changa from Tiger FC