Foundation of Light
Founded6 September 2001
TypeRegistered Charity
HeadquartersBeacon of Light
Location
Area served
North East England
Official language
English
Key people
Sir Bob Murray CBE
Employees
130
Websitefoundationoflight.co.uk

The Foundation of Light (Previously called the SAFC Foundation) is a Registered Charity in the United Kingdom, and is the independent charitable foundation of professional football club Sunderland A.F.C. It is the biggest football charity in the UK.[1]

It was founded on 6 September 2001 by Sunderland chairman Bob Murray. The charity's patron is the Duchess of Edinburgh[2] and the Chief executive officer is Lesley Spuhler OBE.[3]

History

In 1988, Sunderland took part in the 'Community Programme in Professional Football’, a scheme aimed at encouraging links between football clubs and their local communities. This became the 'Football in the Community' initiative in the early 1990s, which Sunderland were involved in from the beginning.[1]

In September 2001, Sunderland chairman Bob Murray announced the separation of Sunderland's charitable and community work from the mainstream club activity, and the independent SAFC Foundation was created.[4] The foundation was initially supported with funding from Sunderland A.F.C., Northern Rock and the Coalfields Regeneration Trust.[3]

The Foundation's main charitable aim is to:

Advance the education (including the social and physical training) of children and young persons attending schools and clubs in the area, through the use of football and other sports activities as educational tools and thereof to provide facilities for meetings, lectures and classes for the benefit of such young children and young persons.[5]

Within a year, the Foundation had a staff of 70 who engaged with school children in 280 schools, predominantly in Sunderland and County Durham.[4] Initially, classrooms within the Academy of Light were used for the Foundation, as well as two mobile double-decker buses containing specialist classrooms. The custom-built Centre for Light opened in 2004, a £1.6m learning facility built within the Stadium of Light.[6] The centre included five learning areas supporting up to 120 visiting children per day.

The Foundation regularly undertakes various fund-raising activities. In 2011, it collaborated with Durham Cathedral on a 'Carols of Light' event. The event was produced by Tim Rice and included music performances from Thomas Allen, former Animals member Alan Price, and Sunderland based band The Futureheads.[7] Readings were performed by SAFC Foundation Trustee and former player Niall Quinn, in addition to other sports and media celebrities including journalist Kate Adie, and presenter Steve Cram.[8][9]

In 2012, the SAFC Foundation was rebranded as the Foundation of Light.

In 2015, the Foundation was granted permission to open a free school next to the Stadium of Light. The Sunderland Centre for Opportunity (SCOO) would offer opportunities for vulnerable children who struggle in mainstream education.[10]

In September 2018, the Beacon of Light opened, and became the new official home of the Foundation of Light. The £20m, five-storey building, which sits alongside the Stadium of Light, includes indoor sports courts, indoor and outdoor artificial turf pitches, as well as classrooms and learning spaces.[11]

After purchasing the club in May 2018, Sunderland chairman Stewart Donald joined the Foundation of Light board of trustees on 11 October 2018.[11]

On 7th February 2023 Jamie Wilson a hearing impaired disability coach who had been with the charity since 2008 steped down after half of the 21st century with the charity.

Financials

In 2017, the Foundation of Light raised £11.1m and spent £4.1m. It had £17.8m in assets and £5.5m in liabilities.[5] There were 130 employees and 42 volunteers.[5] Over 300,000 people have been helped by the Foundation since it was created.[12]

Board of trustees

The following people are on the board of trustees:[13][14]

Former Trustees

References

  1. 1 2 "SAFC Foundation founded — Sir Bob Murray". www.sirbobmurray.com. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  2. ↑ "Sunderland AFC gets royal recognition". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  3. 1 2 Ford, Coreena (17 May 2015). "Business Interview: Lesley Spuhler, chief executive of the Foundation of Light". journallive. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  4. 1 2 Hetherington, Peter (18 April 2003). "Stadium of Light casts a dark shadow over Sunderland". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 "Charity Details". beta.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  6. ↑ "A bit of class at the Stadium of Light". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  7. ↑ "Carols of Light charity fundraising event - Durham University". www.dur.ac.uk. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  8. ↑ "Identity created for Sunderland Association Football Club Foundation concert".
  9. ↑ https://www.dur.ac.uk/dialogue/signposts/students/?itemno=13224
  10. ↑ "Black Cats' charity to open free school beside Sunderland Stadium of Light". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Sunderland AFC chairman Stewart Donald takes on new Foundation of Light role". Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  12. ↑ "Foundation Of Light - Follow The Money". charitybank.org. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
  13. ↑ "Meet the Foundation of Light team". Foundation of Light. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  14. ↑ "Charity Details". beta.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
  15. ↑ "Foundation of Light Annual Report (2013)" (PDF).
  16. ↑ "Foundation of Light - Annual Report (2017)" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "Quinn Steps Down As SAFC Foundation Trustee". Capital North East. Retrieved 6 November 2018.
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