Foundation of Light introduces transformational place-based football academy at Consett AFC
The pioneering academy, based at the football club’s Belle View Stadium, aims to remove long-standing barriers to education and high-performance coaching.
For a second successive year, Bailey Wright has picked up the Community Champion Award by the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) in recognition of his ongoing support for the Foundation of Light.
The PFA Community Champions Award aims to raise awareness of the great support that players provide to their club's community activities during the season.
Carrying on his great work with the Foundation from last campaign, Wright has continued to support our work and has been involved in a wide range of activities. The SAFC defender recently joined 150 school pupils at the Beacon of Light to celebrate World Book Day and backed the Foundation of Light’s Give a Quid campaign to help tackle poverty.
Learning he had won the award for a second time, Wright said: “It’s something that I’m proud and privileged to receive.
“It means a lot to me because it’s nice to know as a footballer that you’re in a position to make a positive impact on those around you. I probably speak on behalf of the majority of the lads, it’s great to be part of the Foundation and help out and it puts smiles on our faces.”
Wright was also full of praise for the Foundation of Light. He said: “Every time you set foot in the Foundation, and you’re in the company of anyone that works there, you can feel the positive energy and that’s contagious and you can certainly feel that around the building.
“I have not experienced a foundation like the Foundation of Light.”
The pioneering academy, based at the football club’s Belle View Stadium, aims to remove long-standing barriers to education and high-performance coaching.
Foundation of Light, the official charity of Sunderland AFC, has made significant savings on energy costs thanks to a new partnership with Sunderland-based energy broker, Utilink Consulting.
Foundation of Light has recognised Isla Cameron as one of its Wear 25 award winners, following her call-up to the England U13s Deaf Futsal team.