Football club foundations from across the North East came together last week for a special event at Newcastle United Foundation's state-of-the-art NUCASTLE facility to celebrate the impact of the Premier League in the region.
More than two million people have participated in community programmes funded by the Premier League and this includes more than 150,000 throughout the North East.
Over 100 participants and staff from Newcastle United Foundation, Sunderland AFC's Foundation of Light, Middlesbrough FC Foundation and Hartlepool United Community Sports Foundation took part in an action-packed showcase, with sessions taking place across all three floors of the NUCASTLE complex, including its rooftop astroturf pitch which overlooks St James’s Park.
"The North East is a football region, football runs through the blood of people here," said North East Mayor Kim McGuinness.
"The work that the Premier League funds and the club foundations deliver is important and helps to transform the lives of people throughout our region.
"Football's ability to inspire and engage people is universal. Through the incredible efforts of the workforce, our club foundations reach people from five years old in primary school right the way through to older generations keeping physically active through walking football."
Sports hall activity included the Middlesbrough FC Foundation leading PE lessons for primary school children and a football session for students from a local adult educational needs college.
There were also classroom-based activities, with college students practicing their coding skills and eSports and elderly football fans suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s sharing memories of Hartlepool United and taking part in games and crafts.
Over-50s walking football participants and Under-18s players from the Premier League Kicks programme joined forces for a showpiece Newcastle United Foundation friendly match.
"The Premier League is more than a game, its impact is about far more than 90 minutes on the pitch," said Premier League Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer Clare Sumner.
"Of course it is a brilliant competition with 20 clubs competing and thrilling fans week in, week out. We are very proud that the success of the competition enables the Premier League to invest £1.6 billion pounds in funding over a three-year period to support communities and football at all levels, throughout the football pyramid."
