Zahawi hails work of Newcastle United Foundation

Education secretary Nadhim Zahawi has praised the work of the Newcastle United Foundation after a visit to its new home, NUCASTLE.

"I loved seeing the great work being done at Newcastle United Foundation,” said Zahawi.

"They are delivering education, health and wider support programmes to their local community, across all ages, to help with their learning, wellbeing or getting back into work."

Through the NU Futures programme - an initiative that will support 12,000 young people over the next 10 years and transform the way the next generation enter the world of work - Zahawi was able to witness the outstanding efforts that are being conducted at NUCASTLE.

Just a five-minute walk from the club's stadium St. James' Park, NUCASTLE will give schoolchildren, teenagers and young adults access to up to 300 businesses across Newcastle, North Tyneside and Northumberland through the programme.

The hub was built with a £2million grant from the Football Foundation’s funding partners, the Premier League, The FA and the government through Sport England.

Zahawi saw NUCASTLE's facilities for learning that included its dedicated STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) classroom and esports suite. More than 55 secondary schools from the region have been using the hub since its opening in March 2022.

During his visit, Zahawi also met with former Newcastle United striker and Foundation Trustee, Shola Ameobi, Premier League Head of Corporate Affairs Tim Vine and MP for Hexham, Guy Opperman.

While there are significant investors in NUCASTLE and NU Futures to fund these projects, ordinary fans can also contribute to the Foundation, such as bidding for shirts signed by first-team players, Chris Wood, Matt Targett and Kieran Trippier.