Yearbook 2024-25

Foundation of Light is the official charity of Sunderland AFC, based at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland. The 2024-25 Yearbook showcases the charity's work across sport and play, education and employment, and health and wellbeing, delivered through wide-ranging programmes across Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham, using the power of football to empower people to improve their lives.

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📋About

Sport and play programmes including football development, disability sport and neurological walking football; health and wellbeing provision including mental health support (Game of II Halves); education and employment pathways; Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme; family learning; STEM and esports courses; Wear One community campaign addressing child poverty

📊Key Metrics

Total income £4,910,000 and total expenditure £5,220,000 (year ending 31 August 2024) Key Metric 1
Over 500,000 people reached across Sunderland, South Tyneside and County Durham since the Foundation's inception Key Metric 2
Over 33,000 course registrants annually, with more than 100 partner schools and nearly 1,500 people gaining qualifications and employment each year Key Metric 3

Key Outcomes

  • Over 750 sessions delivered in 2023-24, with almost 1,500 young people and adults upskilled and nearly 100 jobs secured through the charity's programmes
  • £5 million raised in donor income in 2023-24, enabling sustained delivery of life-enhancing programmes across the North East
  • Partnerships with over 100 local schools, supporting more than 1,400 families through flagship learning programmes and tackling the stark reality that one in three children in Sunderland lives in poverty

📍Geography

North East

2025 Enhanced

Impact Review 2024/25

£3,112,419 raised to deliver projects in 2024/25; total income £2,920,000 and total expenditure £2,850,000 (year ended 31 August 2024)
Key Metric 1
28,692 people took part in activities; 307,544 visits to sessions; 17,793 sessions delivered
Key Metric 2
More than 16,000 young people engaged across early years and primary programmes; 34 Premier League Primary Stars partner schools; over 7,000 healthy meals provided on HAF camps
Key Metric 3
Blackpool FC Sports College A Team won the CEFA league title 2024/25; BFC School received 'Good' Ofsted rating in November 2024; Norbreck Primary Academy reached EFL Utilita Kids Cup National Final at Wembley, winning Regional Finals unbeaten
2025 Enhanced

Impact Report 2025

Total income £659,217 and total expenditure £674,216 (year ended 30 June 2025, charity no. 1137275); 10,252 individuals engaged across the 2024/25 season, with 9,713 being young people in schools
Key Metric 1
82% of participants reported positive impact on mental wellbeing; 84% on physical wellbeing; 82% on sense of community; 86% made new friends since joining
Key Metric 2
70% agreed they made positive changes to their life as a result of CUF activity; 63% of adult participants felt a strong sense of community/belonging, 2% above the national average; 78% agreed they feel more motivated to be physically active (Forever United older adults programme)
Key Metric 3
56.7% of young people hardly ever or never feel lonely vs national average; 94% of participants feel welcome, safe and included; CUF participants ranked higher than Cambridge and UK averages for happiness, life satisfaction and worthwhile life
2025 Enhanced

Impact Report 2024-25

6,744 participants engaged across education, social inclusion, employability, heritage and health programmes in 2024/25
Key Metric 1
37,357 hours of positive activity delivered; £3.9 million in social value generated
Key Metric 2
4,805 pupils supported across 58 education settings; 300+ young people referred across six Engage hubs in Northampton, Kettering, Corby and Milton Keynes
Key Metric 3
89% of young people attending Engage programme made positive steps; 92% of employability learners moved to positive progression