HELP US MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE IN OUR REGION COME TOGETHER AND SHOW THE COMMUNITY YOU CARE
WHO CARES? WE CARE.
A CHANCE TO HELP CHANGE LIVES ACROSS THE NORTH EAST The Foundation of Light is one of the most successful sports charities in the world. In the past 15 years, we’ve changed the lives of over 300,000 people in our community. We’ve achieved so much, but we don’t want that great work to stop there. We need to be honest and admit our region has some serious problems. We need to come together, address these head-on and show we care about our community. If we all pledge to join forces and do this as a collective, we can help the very people on our doorstep. That’s why we’re building the Beacon of Light.
A LASTING LEGACY THAT WILL SHINE BRIGHT FOR ALL The Beacon of Light will be the first facility of its kind in the UK and will become an iconic building across the region. This easily accessible venue will be a community hub for all – a motivating place that provides opportunities for young people and their families. It will include four engaging and interactive zones in Education, Health & Wellbeing, Sport & Play, and the World of Work designed to deal with our community’s biggest challenges.
WHO CARES THAT THE NORTH EAST HAS THE MOST UNEMPLOYED 16-24 YEAR OLDS? WE CARE. That’s why The Arriva World of Work Zone will provide hundreds of unemployed adults with the training, tuition and confidence they need to get a job.
WHO CARES THAT 1 IN 4 10-YEAR-OLDS IN SUNDERLAND ARE OBESE? WE CARE. That’s why our Health & Wellbeing Zone will provide adults and youngsters with opportunities to learn about and improve their health through a combination of classroom teaching and physical exercise.
WHO CARES THAT 1 IN 5 ADULTS IN OUR REGION HAVE THE MATHEMATIC ABILITIES OF A 7-9 YEAR OLD? WE CARE. The Beacon of Light’s Education Zone will provide a stimulating and inspiring environment for the whole family to improve their knowledge and boost their education levels.
WHO CARES THAT 73% OF PEOPLE IN OUR REGION DON’T EXERCISE? WE CARE. That’s why our Sport & Play Zone will provide high-quality sports facilities, tuition and support to help people get fitter and healthier. Our disability and sport programmes will be inclusive for all, boosting independence, self-esteem and happiness.
THERE’S STILL A LOT OF WORK TO DO The work on the main structure of the Beacon of Light is due to be completed in September 2018 but we still need to raise a further £2m to complete the building to a high standard and provide the resources our region needs and deserves.
SEPTEMBER 2017
SEPTEMBER 2018
YOU’VE BEEN HAND-PICKED TO HELP We’ve chosen a handful of companies to help us reach our target and as one of them, this is your chance to pull together and show mutual support for helping our own. Through true camaraderie, we can all create a lasting impact and make Sunderland and the North East a great place to live for everyone for decades to come.
WHAT ARE WE ASKING YOU TO DO? This is a personal plea to help us bridge the gap by raising £5,000. We’re initially asking for an upfront donation of £1,000. That £1,000 will secure your 6m wide hoarding space on the new Beacon of Light site for 10 months, including the duration of the 2017/18 English Football League season. We’ll feature a problem you’d like to see addressed and your logo as part of our ‘Who cares? We care.’ campaign. The equivalent media value of the hoarding is £7,000, so it’s a great investment. Its perfect location on Kier Hardie Way in front of the Stadium of Light means it’ll be seen by the masses – anyone passing can see we’re all working with each other to make this happen for our community. Plus, it’ll raise awareness of your company and deliver in terms of your CSR. That’s the first part of our mission – we then need everyone in your company to get behind us to help raise an additional £4,000 through fundraising.
IN IT TOGETHER We hope you’ll pledge to join forces and do your bit to help. The idea is to get everyone together and build a real sense of local pride in your staff. This is our region – let’s get that community spirit going and build something amazing for the North East.
SOME FUNDRAISING SUGGESTIONS TO GET YOU STARTED There’s so many things you could do to raise money. Here’s a few ideas to get you thinking: •
International bake-off Get everyone talking about ‘soggy bottoms’ – this challenges the most unimaginative in the kitchen to channel their inner celebrity chef and rock a creation specific to a country. Everyone pays a certain amount of money to taste the home-bakes once judging has taken place.
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Company sports day and footy match Get everyone to make up teams and charge an entrance fee for participants. A great way to encourage healthy competition, and a real laugh. For those that aren’t sporty and shy away from physical activity, give them the opportunity to referee or cheer the teams on.
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Sponsored challenge Organise a sponsored challenge for your more sporty employees – perhaps a 10K run, a half-marathon or a bike ride? Or how about a sponsored silence or a swear box? For the braver among you, maybe a sponsored head shave or back wax? The possibilities are endless.
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Dress-down days Staff members could pay a small fee to dress more casually for the day. On Fridays, it’s a nice way to ease into the weekend and help your community at the same time. Add some fun by organising themed days – footy strips for match days, spooky gear for Halloween or jumpers at Christmas.
HELP US LIGHT UP LIVES Getting involved in the Beacon of Light will not only help transform thousands of local lives, it’ll make a big difference to your business too. Being part of something that will have a lasting effect on the region is a great way to boost staff morale, as well as helping with your overall CSR strategy. And remember, raising £5,000 also gives your company prime advertising space worth £7,000 on a busy route into Sunderland.
With everything going on in the world currently, this is an important time to support those on our doorstep. We can’t do this without you, so please pledge your support today. To sign up, call Lesley Spuhler on: 0191 551 5126 or email: Lesley.Spuhler@foundationoflight.co.uk To find out more about the Beacon of Light, please visit: beaconoflight.co.uk #BackTheBeacon
WHO CARES? WE CARE. REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER. 1089333