Last word: Lesley Spuhler, chief executive of the Foundation of Light

Sunderland AFC’s Premier League return has generated a huge buzz across Wearside. How can the Foundation of Light harness the positivity – and increased spotlight – on the club to further boost its impact?

The Premier League is a global stage, but its impact will be felt deeply in our local communities.

It will inspire a new generation of Sunderland supporters, and we’ll continue to work hard to channel that energy into our programmes in schools and communities across the city and the wider region.

We’ve always known how powerful the Sunderland badge can be and now, with the spotlight on us like never before, we have even greater potential to deliver life-changing opportunities to thousands of people and reach further to drive positive change.

The community influence to which you refer includes a dedicated focus on female participation. How is the charity – and its Beacon of Light hub – helping more women and girls get into the game?

It’s not just the men’s team bringing people into the Beacon of Light.

As well as welcoming Jill Scott to the board of trustees, a particular strength has been the growth of our Female Football Pathway.

That now engages with more than 500 participants, reflecting the increasing role of women and girls in sport.

As the charity looks forward to its 25th anniversary, what are the aims for the next quarter of a century?

We will shortly be announcing our five-year strategy for 2025-2030, to build on our successes at the Beacon of Light, which remains the beating heart of our work.

It serves as a hub for programmes and a space for the community; The Beacon is a lifeline for so many people.

This year, we’ve worked with more than 23,000 individuals across 50 programmes, spanning education, employability, health and sport, and we have upskilled more than 1500 young people and adults through our employability programmes, helping secure jobs for hundreds.

And our partnerships with Sunderland and Durham universities, the Croda Foundation, Roseline Foundation and all three local authorities have strengthened our ability to deliver meaningful change where it is needed most.

foundationoflight.co.uk

LinkedIn: Foundation of Light (SAFC)