Foundation of Light join global movement to accelerate Gender Equity in Sport

Foundation of Light has joined a global movement for gender equity in sport alongside other organisations from across the North East of England. 

Eight of the region's most influential sporting, political, and educational institutions united on Sunday at Durham Cricket Ground in a historic multi-signing of the International Working Group (IWG) on Women & Sport’s Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration.

A Regional Blueprint for Change

The signatories span professional sport, community foundations, world-class universities, and regional government - creating a powerful cross-sector alliance committed to dismantling barriers that prevent women and girls from participating, leading, and thriving in sport and physical activity.

The organisations joining IWG's global network are:

• Durham Cricket.
• Durham Cricket Foundation.
• Eagles Community Foundation.
• England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
• Foundation of Light.
• Newcastle Eagles Basketball.
• Newcastle Red Bulls.
• Newcastle United Foundation.
• Newcastle University.
• North East Combined Authority (NECA).
• Northumbria University Newcastle.

IWG's Brighton Plus Helsinki Declaration serves as a global roadmap for the development of a more equitable system for sport and physical activity. As new signatories, these North East organisations join a network of over 600 global organisations dedicated to sharing knowledge, driving evidence-based change, and accelerating the pace of progress.

Annamarie Phelps, Co-Chair of the International Working Group on Women and Sport (IWG), said:

"The North East is a region defined by its passion for sport, and today it becomes a region defined by its commitment to equity. To see this cross-sector collective join our global movement is a testament to the power of collaboration and cooperation to ensure that every woman and girl has an environment she can thrive in."

Each signatory joins the movement as a formalisation of long-standing efforts to embed equity into the fabric of North East sport, from pioneering STEM-based basketball programmes and establishing professional cricket pathways to strengthening international leadership workshops and regional infrastructure.

Lesley Spuhler OBE, DL, CEO, Foundation of Light:

"At Foundation of Light, we believe sport has the power to change lives. Becoming a signatory strengthens our commitment to ensuring women and girls have equal opportunities to participate, develop and thrive through sport and physical activity."