BEACON TURNS PURPLE FOR NATIONAL RECOVERY MONTH

The Beacon of Light will be lit up in purple on Thursday and Friday evenings to show support for National Recovery Month.

The award-winning building will be just one of several Sunderland landmarks lit ahead of the UK Recovery Walk which takes place in Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Each September, National Recovery Month sees thousands of people in recovery, as well as projects and services, celebrate their successes and recovery itself by organising and taking part in events that are hosted up and down the UK.

Foundation of Light works with people from all types of backgrounds, both in communities and in the Beacon of Light, many of whom are in recovery or taking those first vital steps towards recovery.

In particular, Sunderland AFC’s official charity has supported a number of people recovering from alcohol addiction, through its award-winning Back in the Game employability programme. Back in the Game is designed to support jobseekers to find work by raising skills, confidence, motivation and self-esteem whilst also assisting learners throughout the application to work process.

The interactive Back in the Game course consists of a mixture of classroom, practical and physical activities which all enable participants to enhance their employment prospects.

Delivered from the Beacon of Light and the Foundation’s outreach sites across the North East, the programme has helped more than one in three learners find a job during or within six weeks of finishing the course with local businesses.

Foundation of Light’s Director of Programmes, Jamie Wright said “By lighting the building in purple on Thursday and Friday night, we are hoping to increase awareness and understanding of mental and substance use disorders and most importantly celebrate the people who recover.

We applaud those taking those difficult steps towards recovery and are supportive of their journey

“The Foundation of Light works with a number of partner organisations to support those recovering from alcohol and substance misuse to get back on their feet. Through our Back in Game employability programme we have seen first-hand how inspirational those individuals are and we are proud to play our part in helping them to make a positive change to their lives.”