Duchess of Edinburgh hosts lunch at palace for North East football club charity
The Duchess of Edinburgh hosted a special lunch at St James's Palace to celebrate the work of a North East football club's charity.
The event, organised for the Foundation of Light, Sunderland AFC’s official charity, aimed to thank the dedicated supporters and applaud the charity’s achievements.
Set within the historic walls of St James's Palace, the gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the transformative work carried out by the charity alongside Her Royal Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Since its inception in 2001, the Foundation of Light has delivered education, sport, health, and employability programmes across the North East, positively impacting the lives of tens of thousands of people.
(Image: Foundation of Light) Foundation of Light chairman, Sir Bob Murray CBE, said: "The work of the Foundation is only possible thanks to the generosity and belief of our supporters.
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"The event at St James's Palace allows us to celebrate not just what we’ve achieved, but also what’s to come as we continue to grow and expand our reach."
(Image: Foundation of Light) "The Foundation of Light extends its deepest gratitude to The Duchess of Edinburgh for her continued patronage and inspiring leadership and we are grateful to have had this special occasion to celebrate those who continue to offer the charity their unwavering support, including our dedicated staff and volunteers, who remain integral to our ongoing success."
Guests, including club chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, were treated to an afternoon of inspiring stories and insights into the Foundation’s successes.
The charity has worked with over half a million people, invested more than £40 million in communities across Sunderland, Durham, and South Tyneside and has been involved in work including keeping young people in school, helping people live more active lifestyles, supporting people into work, and stopping men from dying by suicide.
The event also provided an opportunity to preview upcoming initiatives and reinforce the charity’s commitment to fostering resilience and ambition in communities that need it most.
