A CHARITABLE Foundation which has supported hundreds of North East children is celebrating its 10th anniversary.
The Sir Graham Wylie Foundation was founded by the Sage entrepreneur in 2016 to help, educate and inspire as many young people in the region as possible.
And a decade later it is not only celebrating the success of three major funding initiatives but also unveiling a new project, along with a raft of fundraising ventures for the coming months.
Sir Graham personally meets all the costs of running the Foundation, so every penny raised goes directly to good causes, such as the Nordoff Robbins Music Centre at Jesmond.
Created from the derelict Matron’s Lodge’ at the former Fleming Hospital at Jesmond, Newcastle and officially opened by Sting, the Centre delivers life transforming music therapy to children from across the region.
The Foundation – and Sir Graham personally – have also thrown their support behind the Children’s Heart Unit (CHUF) by providing some of the most up to date, state of the art, medical equipment.
It also supports NUCASTLE, having donated money to fund a dedicated classroom within the Newcastle United Foundation, Community Hub, delivering 753 sessions to date on topics ranging from Employability to Health and Wellbeing.
And its fourth major project – a new Tyneside Talent Unit at Tyneside Cinema – will be unveiled this month (January).
The Foundation has funded the cost of refurbishing the entire second floor of the cinema and will provide a free-to-access creative hub, offering industry-standard facilities and mentoring to young people aspiring to careers in film, television and screen industries.
“When I look back over the past decade what we have achieved has been quite remarkable,” said Sir Graham, “and none of it would have happened without a great deal of support from individuals and businesses, from the North East and further afield.
“But this is just the start. Along with these four ongoing projects, we will continue to donate money to numerous other projects around the region.
“And we will continue to seek support from those who are as passionate about educating and inspiring young people as we are.”
To mark the Foundation’s 10th anniversary it is holding 10 fundraising events in 2026, from a magic cabaret with Chris Cross on 13 February and a Rock and Raise A Glass wine tasting on 6 March, to its annual celebrity golf day on 19 May and a gala dinner at the Hilton Hotel on 28 November.
For information on ways in which to support the work of the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation visit https://sirgrahamwyliefoundation.org.uk