Foundation receives Equality Gold Award

Sunderland AFC charity Foundation of Light has been awarded the highest accolade in the country for its commitment to equality and diversity. The Foundation has received The Equality Standard 'Gold' Award for demonstrating an excellent approach to equality and diversity with employees, customers and stakeholders. One of only 25 organisations to be recognised by Equality North East, the Foundation joins the likes of Gateshead College, Sage Gateshead, the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art and The Centre for Life on the Standard Roll of Honour. Lesley Spuhler, Foundation of Light's CEO, said: "We are delighted to receive The Equality Gold Standard Award from Equality North East.

As a progressive and forward-thinking organisation, we are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our core values and throughout our programmes and business operation. We welcome the difference that an open and diverse culture makes and continually review our programmes and procedures to encourage this.

“We are striving to create a community where absolutely everybody has the opportunity to improve their lives and our work with Equality North East has helped reinforce this." Foundation staff worked with Equality North East for over a year at Gateshead College learning about all aspects of equality, diversity and inclusion through various activities and group sessions while developing the Foundation’s new Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy. Foundation of Light Executive Manager Lynn Cuthbertson, who was instrumental in the application process, added: "The Equality Standard Gold Award is exclusively for organisations that put equality and diversity at the forefront of everything they do. "Foundation of Light are one of the few organisations leading the way in this field and we hope that many others follow suit so that we can create a better North East for everybody."