Founders' Week: history of the Foundation of Light

As Sunderland AFC celebrate Founders' Week, celebrating the 145-year history of the club back to its foundation in 1879, we take a look at the history of the Foundation of Light - the club's official charity.

Foundation of Light was born from Sir Bob Murray’s vision to create a true community-based football club.

His desire was to create an organisation that enabled the less fortunate in society to fulfil their potential, the kind of scheme that may have helped Sir Bob as an unemployed school leaver had it been around in the 1960s.

When an opportunity to be part of the ‘Community Programme in Professional Football’ pilot scheme arose in 1988, two years after he became chairman of Sunderland AFC, there was no hesitation in getting the Black Cats involved.

Sunderland was involved in the trial initiative from the beginning, the findings of which were instrumental in the Football Trust’s decision in the early 1990s to invest in Football in the Community schemes.

‘Sunderland in the Community’ continued from the pilot until 2001, when Sir Bob Murray separated the charitable arm from mainstream club activity, which marked the start of the renamed and financially independent ‘SAFC Foundation’ - later becoming ‘Foundation of Light’ in 2012.

Foundation of Light’s mission is simple: to use the power of football to tackle the North East’s biggest societal challenges, invest in the communities we serve, and to improve the education, health, wellbeing and happiness of people, no matter who they are.

In 2018, our home, the Beacon of Light, opened its doors. The modern community hub within Stadium Park features sports facilities and classrooms and has allowed the Foundation of Light to further innovate in the delivery of our life-changing programmes.

Away from the Beacon, Sunderland AFC’s official charity works across Sunderland, South Tyneside, and County Durham at various outreach centres.

With the aim to raise educational attainment and access to employment, alongside programmes supporting families to live healthier and happier lives and providing more opportunities for inclusive sport and play, the Foundation continues to operate closely to Sir Bob Murray’s initial vision.

In 2023, the former Sunderland AFC chairman released his autobiography ‘I’d Do It All Again’ detailing his life from the dust-choked Consett streets of the 1950s where he left school with just one 'O' level, to the building of the Stadium of Light, Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park.

100% of proceeds from the sales of ‘I’d Do It All Again’ go to the Foundation of Light.

Pick up a copy of Sir Bob Murray's autobiography: www.sirbobmurraybook.co.uk