Our Visit to the Foundation of Light

Last week, the Jobs Foundation had the pleasure of visiting the Beacon of Light, a vibrant five-storycommunity hub adjacent to the north stand of the Stadium of Light, the home of Sunderland A.F.C.

We were welcomed by Jamie Wright, Managing Director and Deputy CEO of the Foundation of Light, the official charity of Sunderland A.F.C.  who in the last 12 months alone have worked with more than 23,000 people across Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham through the delivery of more than 40 programmes, having helped more than 500,000 people since its formation.

Our tour began at ‘Street Level’. In contrast to many traditional community centres, the Beacon embraces open access – no sign-in, no QR code to access the opportunities within the building. Anyone is welcome to step inside, grab a coffee, and meet with friends or colleagues. Jamie explained that this inclusive accessibility is key to the Beacon’s success. By combining openness with the comforting familiarity of the Sunderland A.F.C. badge, the Foundation is able to engage individuals who might otherwise find formal civic buildings intimidating or unwelcoming.

Street Level also serves as the gateway to the Beacon’s diverse programmes and sporting facilities. From the reception, visitors overlook the largest indoor arena between Leeds and Edinburgh, a versatile space that can be configured for futsal, netball, badminton, and more. These facilities, along with the outdoor 3G pitches and soon-to-open paddle courts, are not only central to the Foundation’s community outreach but also provide a crucial revenue stream, supporting the Foundation’s operational independence from the football club.

Also on level 1 are dedicated zones supporting some of the most vulnerable members of the community: Wearside Women in Need, who support victims of domestic violence, and an education zone that offers both the Foundation, and community partners the space to deliver innovative education programmes to hundreds of young people and adults each year. The second floor houses the ‘World of Work Zone’, which supports over 500 unemployed young people and adults annually, helping them earn Level 1 and Level 2 qualifications across seven different industries. This area includes hands-on training hubs such as the Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food Kitchen, Nissan Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Zone, esports room, and the Helen McArdle Health and Social Care Academy. 

Reflecting on the Foundation’s engagement with local secondary schools, Jamie noted: “From speaking to young people and their families, there is a gap for careers advice and guidance as schools have a huge responsibility to open young people’s eyes to the world of work on limited budgets – the unique partnerships that we have with industry experts really help us bring the opportunities to life. The students come into the Beacon of Light, and they see so many different industries in one day, and they can talk to so many industry experts in one day as well.”

While Sunderland A.F.C. continues to make headlines for its recent successes on the pitch, it may be the quieter victories of its Foundation that deserve equal celebration. The Foundation of Light stands as a shining example of how football clubs can harness their brand to transform communities. We look forward to returning to the Beacon in the future.