Foundation of Light introduces transformational place-based football academy at Consett AFC
The pioneering academy, based at the football club’s Belle View Stadium, aims to remove long-standing barriers to education and high-performance coaching.
Foundation of Light Chief Executive, Lesley Spuhler, attended a special ceremony in York to pick up a Ministry of Defence award on behalf of the Foundation of Light.
Foundation of Light received the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award, the highest badge of honour an employer can receive from the Ministry of Defence.
In doing so, the Foundation of Light alongside Sunderland AFC became the first football club and football foundation in the North East to receive the accolade.
The award recognises the Foundation’s ongoing commitment to the armed forces community, as an armed forces employer, and through its delivery of innovative programmes aimed at military veterans.
During Sunderland AFC’s ‘Heroes Week’ campaign leading up to Remembrance Sunday, Foundation of Light shared the story of some of our armed forces experience staff who are now committed to making a difference across Sunderland: Click Here for full story
“To receive the highest possible honour for an armed forces employer underlines the Foundation’s commitment to service men and women within our community," Lesley said on winning the award.
“We are incredibly proud to support the armed forces community through programmes aimed at keeping veterans active and engaged. It’s particularly pleasing that some of these programmes are delivered by veterans who now form a crucial part of the team at the Foundation of Light."

The pioneering academy, based at the football club’s Belle View Stadium, aims to remove long-standing barriers to education and high-performance coaching.
Foundation of Light, the official charity of Sunderland AFC, has made significant savings on energy costs thanks to a new partnership with Sunderland-based energy broker, Utilink Consulting.
Foundation of Light has recognised Isla Cameron as one of its Wear 25 award winners, following her call-up to the England U13s Deaf Futsal team.