Round-Up: Foundation of Light honours Black History Month 2024

As the UK celebrated Black History Month throughout October, Foundation of Light have taken the opportunity to celebrate black accomplishments and promote anti-discrimination messaging throughout our programmes.

Working with participants from primary school through Premier League Primary Stars to Over 55s through Wear Together, Sunderland AFC’s official charity has an unprecedented reach within the city and across South Tyneside and County Durham.

The Foundation uses this opportunity to reach as many people as possible across all walks of life to spread the word on black achievement and the importance of stamping out racism.

Primary Intervention Programme

Students from PIP, a six-week intervention for children at risk of exclusion or falling behind in their education, took part in several Black History Month projects.

The pupils learned about pioneers such as Frida Kahlo and the charity work of England footballer Marcus Rashford.

The group have also taken part in a Foundation of Light Equality Workshop and made posters to promote allyship on the back of their learning.

Coals to Goals

Attendees of the Coals to Goals Heritage Group, our informal group discussion sessions aimed at former shipyard and colliery workers to share stories and reconnect socially, took part in a Black History of Sunderland heritage walk.

The group visited locations across the city, paying homage to various Black History figures such as James Field Stanfield and Celestine Edwards.

Premier League Kicks

One of the Foundation’s Premier League Kicks groups were tasked with thinking of new ideas to highlight Black History.

The participants worked on football-style trading cards featuring inspirational black people from the world of football and local Black History figures to Sunderland and the North East.

The cards featured information on the work of each figure, highlighting their contribution and spreading the word of their work.

Foundation of Light Scholars

An upcoming Foundation of Light football scholarship side played a Black History Month commemorative friendly match against Windrush African Caribbean North-East U16s.

The Windrush African Caribbean side brings together local teenagers, many of them descendants of the Windrush Generation, to honour the contribution of those who answered the British government's call after World War 2.

Former Sunderland AFC captain and friend of the Foundation of Light, Gary Bennett, was in attendance at Ford Football Hub and took the honorary kick-off to get the match underway,

Bennett, whose parents travelled to the UK from Jamaica as part of the Windrush generation, supported the launch of the Windrush Football Club earlier this year.