Year in review 2018: July to December

• View our achievements from January to June 2018

July

• The North East LEP is backed the Beacon of Light to create jobs in the North East and help grow the region’s economy with a £1.8 million investment www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/north-east-lep-backs-beacon-to-create-jobs/
• Students from Sunderland’s Barbara Priestman Academy joined youngsters representing 23 Premier League and English Football League clubs at a Disability Football Festival hosted by the Premier League and BT Sport www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/disability-festival-a-winner-with-sunderland-youngsters/
• The Beacon of Light welcomed more than 200 young footballers to a special tournament celbrating the diversity of the World Cup www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/beacon-hosts-world-cup-tournament/

August

• We were awarded awarded the highest accolade in the country for our commitment to equality and diversity with our employees, customers and stakeholders www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-receives-equality-gold-award/
• We also celebrated receiving a £6,000 'Grow the Game' grant to help encourage more girls to play football through our Foundation Community Clubs, providing a boost to female grassroots football www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-awarded-grow-the-game-grant/
• North East based O’Brien group pledged their support for Sunderland’s newest sports, events and education venue, demonstrating their commitment to the local community by sponsoring two steps of the Beacon of Light’s feature staircase and an outdoor 3G football pitch www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/obrien-pitch-in-to-support-beacon/
• No fewer than 11 current and former Foundation of Light participants were named in Sunderland AFC Ladies’ squad for the 2018-19 FA Women's National League season www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-lights-up-womens-football/

September

• Following our move into the Beacon of Light, we enjoyed a period of ‘unprecedented growth’, recruiting over 50 full-time members of staff to our diverse team in six months www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-enjoys-unprecedented-staff-growth/
• Ahead of Sunderland AFC’s match against Fleetwood Town we encouraged supporters to give generously to a Wearside foodbank with a a drop-off point set up at the Beacon of Light for donations. www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-supports-fan-organised-foodbank/
• We teamed up with the University of Sunderland to launch a new female disability programme open adults with a wide range of physical and learning needs with sessions focus on enjoying sport and offering progression into local leagues www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/female-disability-programme-launched/
• Sunderland AFC management and players lined up to support the Beacon of Light with a string of Black Cats stars attending events and activities at the state-of-the-art facility www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/sunderland-afc-stars-back-beacon-of-light/

October

• Sunderland AFC Chairman Stewart Donald accepted an offer to join our esteemed Board of Trustees from Lifetime Club President, former Chairman and current Foundation of Light Chair of Trustees Sir Bob Murray CBE www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-strengthens-board-with-safc-chairman/
• The Centre of Light, our educational centre in the heart of Chester-le-Street run in partnership with Karbon Homes, was given a new look before re-opening its doors to the public www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-education-hub-scores-with-refurbishment/
• Football’s power to improve lives across was honoured as Foundation of Light, Middlesbrough Foundation and Newcastle United Foundation teamed up to win the ‘Uniquely North East’ prize at the North East Charity Awards www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/north-east-football-foundations-net-award-win/

November

• We offered more school leavers with opportunities to kick start a career in sport with the launch of our Futsal Education Programme due to kick off in 2019 www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-launches-futsal-scholarship/
• Winning our second award in a matter of weeks we were recognised at Sunderland Echo’s Portfolio Awards picking up the Special Community prize www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-increases-awards-portfolio/
• Over 80 brave fundraisers swapped their beds for sleeping bags to raise money and awaresness for youth homelessness charity, raising over £20,000 www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/sleep-out-raises-20000/
• Youngsters from across Sunderland celebrated National Nursery Rhyme Week at the Beacon of Light with pupils from St.James RC Primary, St.Bede’s RC Primary School, Plains Farm Academy, Rosemary Lane Nursery School and Siblings Nursery taking part in various activities linking literacy and nursery rhymes. www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/children-enjoy-rhyme-time-at-beacon-of-light/

December

• Our women and girls football programme ended a fantastic year with success in two national competitions. with the Ladies Football Scholars taking a giant step towards retaining the NFYL U19 Cup while Sunderland RTC Under 16s qualified for Phase 2 of the FA Girls Regional Talent Club League (North) www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/national-success-for-young-black-cats/
• Rounding off our award wins, CEO Lesley Spuhler OBE's significant contribution to the North East was recognised at the the inaugural North East Times Impact Awards www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/foundation-ceo-wins-top-award-for-contribution-to-region/
• Pupils from Park View School will represent Sunderland AFC at the Premier League Enterprise Challenge Club Heat after wowing judges including SAFC Managing Director Tony Davison, Corporate Communications Manager Sophie Ashcroft and Foundation of Light's Head of Operations Michael Colclough www.foundationoflight.co.uk/news/purr-fect-players-are-on-target/