Member Article

Back the Beacon of Light!

ONE of the region’s most high-profile business figures has urged companies to back a £15m appeal to build the Beacon of Light.

Former Director of Corporate Affairs at Northumbrian Water, John Mowbray OBE is also a Past President of the North East Chamber of Commerce, past Chair of Durham City Vision and Vice Chair of the NewcastleGateshead Initiative.

John has chaired Foundation of Light’s Development Board for three years and is proud of the difference Sunderland AFC’s official charity has made in the city and beyond: “The Foundation’s impact has been huge. We’ve helped change so many people’s lives, creating real opportunities for young people and their families.”

But he believes the Beacon of Light can further the Foundation’s reach and deliver even more life-changing opportunities: “We’ve been based at the Stadium of Light since it opened, but we need more space now.”

The Foundation is raising funds to build the £15m Beacon of Light on land next to the Stadium of Light and Sunderland Aquatic Centre. The Beacon will be a vibrant and exciting education and sports facility and will be designed by one of the country’s top architect practices, FaulknerBrowns.

Built over three storeys, the Beacon will provide a safe and vibrant environment where young people can take courses to gain skills and qualifications as well as somewhere they can meet socially. It aims to have positive impacts on the city’s challenges around education, health and joblessness. For a full description of the Beacon’s facilities, visit the Foundation’s new website at www.foundationoflight.co.uk

“The Beacon will feature four zones: education, health and wellbeing, sport and play and world of work. They echo the Foundation’s priorities, and the zones are a great fit to Sunderland’s education strategy,” said John who chairs the city’s education leadership board and is Vice-Chairman of the University of Sunderland.

“The Beacon won’t just educate young people, it will help them into work,” he added.

“The recent Top Scorers’ event where the Foundation recognised and rewarded people who’ve benefitted from our courses was a great example of how we can inspire and change lives. We can really help people fulfil their potential, help them achieve their goals – and the Beacon will allow us to spread our reach further across the region.”

John, who will become High Sheriff of Tyne and Wear next year, urged local and regional businesses to get behind the foundation and the Beacon.

“Many local businesses have already become Corporate Members of the Foundation, which costs £250 and raises the profile of firms, as well as giving them some great networking opportunities.

“Or companies might want to get more directly involved in contributing to the Beacon. There will be a range of commercial and corporate opportunities, including naming rights, for firms to take advantage of, as well as a public appeal to support,” he added.

Foundation of Light is working with businesses ranging from SMEs and sole traders up to Blue Chip multi-nationals, helping them to achieve their corporate social responsibility through innovative and exciting local programmes making a tangible difference to their communities. The Beacon provides current and future opportunities for businesses to engage with the Foundation and their local community.

“The Foundation is making a real difference in Sunderland and beyond, but we need help to sustain the vital work we do, and I hope as many businesses as possible can understand the importance of supporting us.”

The Foundation currently educates and inspires more than 39,000 course registrants annually through a range of innovative and award-winning programmes. It operates financially independently of Sunderland AFC and a major fundraising campaign is well underway to raise the £15m needed.

For more information about the Beacon, or the work of the Foundation, go to www.foundationoflight.co.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Burman .