We uncover the event capabilities of Beacon of Light, a first-class event space in Sunderland. PROMOTION A hidden gem in the north-east of England, the aptly named Beacon of Light illuminates the Sunderland skyline every night. Having only opened in 2018, it has already been recognised as a chameleon in the events world, having showcased a plethora of special events.
The Beacon’s iconic cube-shaped structure overlooks the River Wear and can be seen for miles around the city. The first of its kind in the UK, the Beacon is the north-east’s most versatile venue, offering a world-class space for multi purposes.
What makes the venue even more special is its strong focus on the local community; it is home to Sunderland AFC’s official charity, the Foundation of Light; with all proceeds from the Beacon directly supporting the work it does with families throughout the region. The cross-section of people the Foundation of Light works with is unparalleled, from 18 months to 80-plus years, with programmes impacting on health, behaviour, attitude, skills and education.
Foundation of Light was established in 2001 by former Sunderland AFC chairman Sir Bob Murray and aims to improve lives through the power of football. The charity runs many programmes to help the community, from sports coaching to online learning courses for the entire family. While being linked to Sunderland AFC, the charity is structurally and financially independent from the football club and responsible for fundraising £4 million each year to run its life- changing programmes, making the Beacon an integral part of the charity’s everyday running.
Inclusive and easily accessible, around 6,000 people a week already enjoy the flexible spaces able to accommodate up to 3,500 for special events. Across five levels the facility houses an indoor arena, football pitches, event spaces and state-of-the-art education suites, all of which can be tailored to meet your needs.
Another feather in the cap for the facility is its transport links, with metro and train stations within a short walk, there is also plentiful free parking. Adjacent to the Beacon is a conveniently located Hilton Garden Inn Hotel, with much more accommodation within walking distance across the city.
A newcomer to the event scene, the venue has already hosted high profile events on behalf of the NHS, Nissan, Team GB and North East Chamber of Commerce. Laura Gage, Marketing Manager at North East Automotive Alliance Limited hosted its exhibition at the Beacon of Light in 2018 and has rebooked twice since: “We held our flagship expo event at the Beacon two years running. It’s a superb venue backed up by a fantastic team to support our every need and ensure the smooth running of the event,” she stated. “We highly recommend the facility, which is perfect for our needs, offering the space we required to move our event to the next level and the ability to grow year on year.”
visit Beaconoflight.co.uk, email
jemma.dowson@foundationoflight.co.uk or
call 0191 563 4735
