SUPPORTERS of a football club’s new educational centre were invited to Buckingham Palace for a celebration lunch to commemorate its upcoming opening.

Sunderland AFC’s Foundation of Light will get the keys to the Beacon Beacon of Light in May and begin the phased opening of the striking, six-storey building near the Stadium of Light.

Chair of Trustees of the foundation, Sir Bob Murray said: “We are hugely honoured that our Patron, Her Royal Highness the Countess of Wessex GCVO so graciously hosted a celebration lunch at Buckingham Palace to thank a number of the Beacon’s generous benefactors and to recognise key stakeholders.

“It was a milestone moment to toast the opening of the Beacon, which is now only weeks away.”

“People still ask why we are building the Beacon and my answer is always the same - the northeast is a fantastic place to live but still has many challenges. Many adults, families and even young people feel like they have limited prospects, nothing to aspire to and therefore no motivation to improve their own lives.

“With deprivation and diminished confidence comes even greater issues. The Beacon of Light will be a force for good for people across the region, not just Sunderland. It will help people to build a brighter future for themselves and their families.

“The Beacon already looks like a landmark building and will boast world class facilities but it has not been designed for the elite – it will be open and welcoming to everyone in our region. As well as being a great social and meeting place, it will also try to address specific challenges such as unemployment, poor attainment and economic inactivity, low skill levels, poor health and issues around crime and anti-social behaviour.”