Foundation of Light Matchday: Your donations can help people like George

Ahead of Saturday's Foundation of Light Matchday when Sunderland AFC take on Millwall, we're looking at the genuine impact made by the club's official charity.

Through its Wear One campaign, Foundation of Light is addressing the ongoing challenges faced by many in Sunderland and giving a hand up to those in need.

With reports suggesting that one in three children in Sunderland are living in poverty, it has never been more critical to increase opportunities and help people attain employment.

Through a range of mentoring and education programmes, in the last year Foundation of Light has helped 88 people gain employment, including George Kailas whose lack of confidence resulted in a long-term struggle to find work.

After meeting Foundation tutors at a Sunderland Job Centre open day, George enrolled onto the Employability Programme featuring mentoring at the Beacon of Light, in the Harrison Centre for Social Mobility, and a two-week placement at Vantec.

Having received overwhelmingly positive feedback during his placement, George was offered a full-time contract at the Nissan factory upon completion of his Forklift Truck License.

“I truly appreciate the opportunity and the help from my tutors Anth and Neil, the Harrison Centre, and the Foundation of Light,” George said, recognising the charity’s impact in giving him the confidence and skills needed to break his cycle of unemployment.

George was given a hand up with support and training, but it was ultimately his own commitment, hard work, and ambition to make a genuine change that helped him take advantage of the Foundation's support. 

With 1,304 learners having been upskilled, helping them towards further education, employment, or progression in their current career, there are many more stories like George’s.

As Sunderland AFC’s official charity, the Foundation uses the power of football to invest in hard-to-reach communities across Sunderland, South Tyneside, and County Durham.

Financially independent of the football club, the Foundation needs to raise over £4million each year through donations, grants, contracts and trading activities to help continue their work with up to 20,000 young people and families.

Here’s a few ways that your donations could make a difference:

• £3 would give someone access to our healthy lifestyle fitness programme
• £5 would teach a person how to cook healthy meals on a budget
• £10 would pay for an older couple to attend activities to improve physical and mental wellbeing
• £20 would teach a family how to cook healthy meals on a budget