October 6, 2026
2025: A year of creating opportunity and strengthening communities
The Harrison Foundation’s recently published annual accounts provide an opportunity to look back at what was achieved during 2025 and, more importantly, the difference our support made to people and communities in North East England and overseas in Antigua and Barbuda.
Throughout the year, our focus remained firmly on creating opportunity. We continued to invest in long-term partnerships spanning education, employability, health, community development and sport, while supporting new projects where we believe the Foundation can make a practical difference.
In the North East, our partnership with Newcastle United Foundation continued to grow. The Harrison Foundation provided £191,740 during 2025 to support work creating opportunities for young people through education, skills, employability and participation.
Across six secondary schools, 945 young people received support, exceeding the original target of 900. More than 380 pupils with special educational needs or disabilities took part – twice the original target – while 163 qualifications were achieved. An impressive 93% of participating students said they felt inspired and engaged.
Our work with the Foundation of Light also continued, with £70,000 provided during the year. Since the first Harrison Centre opened at the Beacon of Light in 2018, more than £600,000 has been invested in employability programmes. During 2025, 86% of participating 16 to 18-year-olds progressed into education or employment.
Education remained central to our work. Acomb First School received more than £93,000, with our support contributing to the development of a purpose-built Wellbeing Hub now used by more than 30 children with sensory and additional needs every day.
The Dales School received £21,414, while £25,000 was provided to the Open University as part of our continued commitment to helping children, young people and adults access opportunities to learn and develop.
We also continued our long-standing relationship with The Sunshine Fund. Almost £30,000 of support funded 30 specialist equipment applications, benefiting 29 individual children as well as a primary school where the support reached 472 pupils.
Sport provided another important route to opportunity. Our £20,000 support for Ponteland RFC helped deliver 383 rugby sessions across eight local schools. During the year, 97 young people came to the club to try rugby, with 38 subsequently registering as new players.
We also began a new relationship with Stanley Brae Riding School through an initial £12,000 grant, with the potential to develop this into a longer-term strategic partnership.
In Antigua and Barbuda, our longstanding programme of charitable investment continued. We supported the development of Potters Playing Fields, the restoration of Government House and the National Sailing Academy Antigua.
For the first time, Harrison Centre students took part in sailing lessons, with around 20 young people participating each week over 20 weeks. The Academy’s Marine Expo & Job Fair also introduced students to potential career opportunities within the marine industry.
Alongside these partnerships, we supported St Cuthbert’s Hospice, St Oswald’s Hospice, NE Youth and Cornerstone Benwell, among others.
The projects may be different, but the purpose behind them is the same – giving people the skills, confidence, facilities and opportunities to move forward.
As our 2025 accounts demonstrate, our approach is about more than individual donations. It is about building lasting relationships and investing consistently in organisations that can create meaningful, long-term opportunities for future generations.