EFDN Member of the Month – December 2024

EFDN Member of the Month – December 2024

Each month, we celebrate a remarkable member making a difference through its dedication, creativity, and passion for positive change. For December 2024, we are thrilled to announce Foundation Of Light as our Member of the Month!

Today we are excited to present the interview that we had with Faye Docherty, Head of Partnerships and Development, whose outstanding work with the Foundation of Light exemplifies the values of collaboration and innovation that led to a huge impact on the Sunderland community and beyond.

Please give us a short presentation of yourself!

I’m Faye Docherty, Head of Partnerships and Development at the Foundation of Light, the official charity of Sunderland AFC. My role plays a key part in fostering meaningful relationships with partners and stakeholders, creating opportunities for collaboration that help us deliver impactful community programmes. Over the past 18 months with the Foundation, I’ve focused on introducing innovative approaches to partnership development, aiming to maximise support for the local community through strategic fundraising and corporate engagement.

What makes you smile in your role?

What truly makes me smile in my role is the connections I get to make every day. I love bringing people and organisations together, create partnerships that might not have existed otherwise. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see the real impact our corporate partners have, not only on the local community but also on the broader local economy. Watching fundraising efforts come to life through tangible projects that change lives is such a rewarding experience. Knowing that I played a part in making those connections and seeing ideas turn into meaningful outcomes always brings me joy.

What inspired you to work in the CSR/ESG field and what made you interested in making a difference in the football industry specifically?

My background in further education and the corporate world gave me a firsthand understanding of the importance of driving meaningful impact through collaboration. I was inspired to work in the CSR and ESG field through my love for helping businesses channel their resources and budgets into initiatives that truly make a difference, creating win-win situations for both the companies and the communities they support.

I was attracted to the football industry specifically due to the unique platform it offers. Football has the power to unite and inspire people like few other things can, and working with an organisation like the Foundation of Light allows me to connect that passion with tangible impact through programmes that change lives. Combining my corporate experience with the universal language of football feels like the perfect way to make a lasting difference.

What core values guide your foundation’s work, and how do you ensure your initiatives have a lasting impact?

The Foundation of Light is guided by six core values that shape everything we do: being collaborative, innovative, striving for excellence, remaining agile, acting with integrity, and being passionate about our mission. These values ensure that we not only deliver impactful programmes but also respond effectively to the changing needs of the community we serve.

Collaboration is at the heart of our work. We partner with individuals, organisations, and businesses to achieve shared goals that maximise community impact. We pride ourselves on being innovative, always looking for creative approaches to tackle challenges and deliver meaningful change. Our pursuit of excellence drives us to deliver programmes that are of the highest quality, while agility ensures we remain responsive to new opportunities and the challenges that our community faces. Integrity is the foundation of trust with our partners and participants, and our passion for making a difference keeps us motivated to go above and beyond every day.

To ensure lasting impact, we focus on creating sustainable, measurable outcomes in all our initiatives. Whether it’s through inspiring educational programmes, career development opportunities, or community projects, we aim to equip individuals with the tools, skills, and confidence they need to improve their lives long-term. By staying true to our values, we create a legacy of positive change that extends far beyond the immediate results of our programmes.

What’s your favourite project and can you share a memorable story that showcases the positive impact of your foundation’s work?

My favourite project to date at the Foundation of Light began building momentum within my first few months in the role, and it perfectly showcases the transformative power of our work. We identified a unique funding opportunity through The Great Britain Sasakawa Foundation that enabled us to take a group of participants from our post-16 scholarship and adult skills programmes on an incredible journey to Japan.

Thanks to the success of our funding application, we were able to send these participants, along with two staff members, to Yokohama, for an immersive learning experience. They observed engineering principles at Nissan, explored cultural landmarks, and gained valuable insights into international work practices and the automotive trade between the UK and Japan. For many, it was their first international trip and a life-changing experience.

What makes this project so special is the ripple effect it created. Not only did participants benefit directly, but it also inspired others in the community and across our workforce. Some are now pursuing opportunities to work abroad, while others, for the first time in their family history, are aiming to attend college or university with aspirations of careers in engineering. It’s projects like these that remind me why our work is so impactful, raising aspirations across our community, providing life-changing experiences for our participants, and empowering our community to dream bigger and chase those dreams!