Notts County Foundation welcomed partners, stakeholders and members of the community to Meadow Lane Stadium on Wednesday 15th April for the official launch of its new organisational strategy.
The event brought together a wide range of invited guests for an engaging and insightful afternoon, offering a first look at the Foundation’s vision for the future — Transforming Communities – the Notts County Way.
A key highlight of the event was a powerful Q&A session, where attendees heard directly from beneficiaries of the Foundation’s projects and programmes. Through honest and personal reflections, individuals shared their lived experiences and the meaningful impact the Foundation has had on their lives, reinforcing the importance of community-driven support.
Guests also heard from key figures across the Club and Foundation, with speeches delivered by Foundation CEO Ajay Sharma and Joe Palmer, CEO of Notts County FC. Both spoke passionately about the strength of the Club-Foundation partnership and the opportunity the new strategy presents to create lasting, positive change across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Adding an innovative dimension to the event, a 3D projected model provided by Projection Augmented Relief Model (PARM) visually mapped the Foundation’s strategic focus areas across the region. The model highlighted areas of greatest need, with particular emphasis on The Meadows… a community where the Foundation is committed to deepening its impact over the coming years.
Throughout the venue, Foundation staff hosted a series of interactive stalls, showcasing the breadth of programmes delivered across Health, Education and Social Mobility. These activations gave guests the opportunity to engage directly with the people behind the work and gain a deeper understanding of how the Foundation supports individuals and communities.
The event reflected the Foundation’s core purpose: supporting people in Nottingham to address their biggest social challenges by harnessing the passion, energy and influence of its partnership with the Club. With a personality rooted in being compassionate, ambitious, collaborative and innovative, the strategy sets out a clear ambition to build healthier, stronger, more cohesive and safer communities, particularly in areas of deprivation.
“This launch was a proud moment for everyone connected to Notts County Foundation. To hear directly from those whose lives have been impacted by our work was incredibly powerful, and it reinforces why this strategy matters. We are committed to building on this momentum, working collaboratively across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire to ensure we create meaningful, lasting change for the communities we serve.” – Ajay Sharma, CEO at Notts County Foundation
The Foundation’s approach will focus on connecting individuals, communities and organisations, with a clear commitment to ensuring that a person’s postcode does not define their life chances.
While its work remains city-wide, there will be a strengthened focus on The Meadows, recognising both the challenges and the opportunities to make a significant difference locally.
Notts County supporters will have another opportunity to learn more about the Foundation’s work and new strategy on Saturday 18th April, when Notts County FC take on Barnet FC at Meadow Lane. The Foundation will be present across multiple locations on the day including; The Nest, hospitality areas, the Foundation office, indoor 3G pitch and the Sports Bar, with a strong focus on community engagement.
A further article will follow next week, providing a deeper dive into the new strategy and what it means for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
