Member Article

Smart Outdoor lends support to Foundation of Light

Smart Outdoor, which provides dynamic, digital advertising screens that reach millions of people every week, has shown its support to the Foundation of Light by gifting the award-winning charity advertising space on five screens across Sunderland and South Tyneside.

Adverts featuring the charity’s ‘Give a Quid to Tackle Social Isolation’ campaign and promoting the Beacon of Light’s state-of-the-art 5-a-side football pitches, will be beamed across a number of locations including St Marys Boulevard and the Spire Bridge in Sunderland, King Street in South Shields city centre, Leam Lane and the A19 southbound.

All money raised by the Foundation’s ‘Give a Quid for Social Isolation’ campaign will go towards helping people access activities that can reduce loneliness and improve physical and mental health. The Foundation currently runs a series of programmes for anyone aged over 55 throughout the North East.

The Beacon of Light opened last year on Stadium Park, and offers sport, education, employability and health programmes for all ages and abilities. The award-winning home to the Foundation of Light, welcomes over 6,000 people a week through its doors and houses six state-of-the-art 5-a-side football pitches, a 4G football pitch on the roof and a multi-sport indoor arena.

Recently named in RIBA’s Great British Buildings 2019, the Beacon offers the best value for money football facilities anywhere in the city, with all proceeds donated to Foundation of Light to support its award-winning programmes across Sunderland, South Tyneside and Durham.

Foundation of Light Director of Commercial, Phil King said; “We are delighted that Smart Outdoor has gifted us time on their screens. As a charity, advertising in this way is not something we have done before, so we are looking forward to engaging with a much broader audience, in a more visual way.

“Using Smart Outdoor screens, we are able to tell our story to thousands of people, in a way we previously didn’t think was possible. From showcasing the life-changing programmes we are delivering across the region, to promoting our fantastic football facilities and leagues at the Beacon of Light, Smart Outdoor’s generosity and support will make a huge difference to how we communicate.”

With a portfolio of 20 existing sites, Smart Outdoor offers its clients a number of prominent advertising opportunities across the North East.

The company moved into Sunderland’s Evolve Business Centre earlier this year and is in the process of agreeing deals that will see new sites appear across the North East and in other ‘underserved’ areas across the UK.

Tricia Shannon, Smart Outdoors Operations Director said “We are delighted to have been able to support such a worthwhile charity.

“We are proud to be based in Sunderland and as the largest outdoor advertising company in the North East, we are able to help the Foundation of Light reach out to the people of Wearside and promote their campaigns far and wide.”

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