Azeem's Journey: From refugee to volunteer
Azeem Iftikah came to the Foundation of Light to help settle in the UK after arriving as a refugee, but he is now an integral part of the Wear Together sessions at The Venue in Stanley.
Successful Summer 2024 comes to a close
As parents across the region prepare fresh uniforms while children enjoy the end of their holidays, our Summer 2024 programme is coming to a close.
While our evening and weekend courses give youngsters plenty to look forward to during the new term, we are looking back at an action-packed summer of fun at the Foundation of Light.
Stars come out at the Beacon
You never know who you could meet while taking part in a Foundation of Light holiday course.
During the second week of summer courses, Foundation of Light trustee Jill Scott made a surprise visit to the Beacon of Light.
The former Lioness, who was part of England’s European Championship triumph in 2022, joined in with Foundation of Light football courses and the multi-activity session Holiday Club.
A few weeks later, Sunderland AFC’s Dan Ballard and Dan Neil made a stop at the Kellogg’s Football Camp to join budding young players for a kickabout.
Following the activities, the Sunderland AFC stars took part in a question and answer session with young supporters before signing autographs and posing for numerous photographs.
Family Fun Day
More than 1,000 people were welcomed to the Beacon of Light for our summer Family Fun Day.
The day offered inclusive sports and play for families in return for just a £2 donation to the Foundation of Light, with activities including basketball, golf, a range of football challenges, arts, crafts, and our UV dance room.
Unique Experiences
A key aim for Foundation of Light summer courses have been to offer something for everyone, no matter their interests.
Courses such as ‘Esports and Robots’ and ‘Engineering and Experiments’ hoped to engage and inspire young people with an interest in STEM.
As part of Engineering and Experiments, participants were offered the unique chance to head to our CAT Peterlee Outreach Centre and take part in a tour of the factory.
Another unusual encounter came in week one of summer course delivery, when Holiday Club participants were given the chance to meet farm animals at the Beacon of Light.
Youngsters enjoyed a visit from Animals About Town, a mobile farm based in County Durham.
Sir Bob Murray says thank you to Foundation of Light volunteers
The former chairman of Sunderland AFC stopped by a volunteer meeting to say thank you to those who give their time to support the work of the club’s official charity.
Summer 2025 programme available to book!
A highlight among the Foundation’s delivery calendar, the summer programme of holiday courses features five weeks of varied activity to keep children active and engaged during the school holidays.