November 1, 2025
Shining a Light on Success: The Harrison Foundation Celebrates Remarkable Stories at the Foundation of Light Awards
The Harrison Foundation was proud to be the Headline Sponsor of this year’s Foundation of Light Gala Awards — a truly inspiring evening celebrating resilience, opportunity and achievement.
As an organisation committed to creating social mobility through education, enterprise and employability, we were delighted to see first-hand the incredible impact the Foundation of Light continues to have in transforming lives across Wearside, South Tyneside and County Durham. The gala brought together supporters, partners and participants to recognise individuals and groups who have made a real difference — not just to themselves, but to their communities.
The evening was filled with stories of determination and achievement — qualities we hold close at the Harrison Foundation. Guests heard from young people and adults whose lives have been changed through the Foundation of Light’s programmes including those delivered at the Harrison Centre for Social Mobility, which has supported hundreds of people aged 16 – 19 from its base at the Beacon of Light in Sunderland since 2018. From those gaining new qualifications and work skills to others improving their health through sport and community engagement, each award represented a journey of personal growth and the power of opportunity.
One particularly special moment was the presentation of the Wear Passionate Award to Joel Swan, who has completed his studies in the Harrison Centre this year. Joel’s determination and positivity have made a lasting impression on those around him and his award was thoroughly deserved.
Our trustee, Daniel Harrison MBE, had the pleasure of presenting Joel with his award. Daniel said afterwards:
“It was an absolute pleasure to present the Wear Passionate Award to Joel. His story is truly inspiring and it’s a reminder of why partnerships like ours with the Foundation of Light are so important. Together, we’re helping to build brighter futures.”
Our partnership with the Foundation of Light continues to focus on providing opportunities for people to unlock their potential. Through the Harrison Centre, we support young people in developing vital life and work skills, helping them take their next steps into employment, education or enterprise.
We would like to thank everyone at the Foundation of Light for hosting such an uplifting event. The dedication and passion of their staff, volunteers and supporters continue to make a lasting difference across the North East.