Wear your Heart on Your Sleeve

Foundation of Light’s ‘Heart on your Sleeve’ campaign is an opportunity to bring Sunderland AFC supporters together to help and inspire one another. 

North East football fans are notorious for their passion and SAFC’s official charity hopes to channel that energy to help make a difference to lives across Wearside. 

Recent studies have shown that health inequalities in the UK are getting worse, with the gap between the North East and the South of England worsening.

People in communities across our region are living shorter lives; spending most of them in poor health.

Foundation of Light works with up to 20,000 young people and families every year and aim to tackle these issues, encouraging parents and grandparents to stay both physically and mentally active to inspire the next generation to do the same. 

Through various initiatives and programmes and links with Sunderland AFC, the Foundation gives families the opportunity to access sports and fitness sessions, mental health resources and experience the facilities at the Beacon of Light community hub. 

During the 2023-24 season, Foundation will be raising funds to support these initiatives and below is how your money can help:

• £5 would pay for a young person with a disability access to a sports session
• £8 pays for an older person to attend activities to stay socially active and improve physical and mental wellbeing 
• £40 will pay for a young person to have access to sessions supporting their physical, mental, and emotional health
• £100 allows us to develop mental health resources to support up to five people 

Over the course of the season, keep your eyes peeled for various ways to get involved with Foundation's 'Heart on your Sleeve' campaign, including players and supporters sharing their SAFC stories, special events, merchandise and so much more. 

Commemorative ‘Heart on Your Sleeve’ silver pin badges will be available from the Beacon of Light for just £3, with all proceeds going straight to the Foundation.

You can also donate to support the Foundation's life-changing work by texting FOLFIVE to 70085 to donate £5 or via JustGiving at www.justgiving/safc

You could enter one of our prize draws on Crowdfunder – with a selection of money-can’t-buy prizes available over the course of the season.

You could be in with a chance of winning a signed Jobe Bellingham shirt, a ‘Cook with the Black Cats’ experience or the chance to be Matchday Mascot at the Stadium of Light, with all proceeds supporting the 'Heart on Your Sleeve' campaign.