North East investment company, Develop North PLC has partnered with Newcastle United Foundation to support a special fundraising event for Toon fans held in London, hosted by acclaimed musician, broadcaster and philanthropist YolanDa Brown OBE DL.
The event brought together Newcastle United supporters from across the capital, including ex-pat Geordies and fans from the South who share a deep affection for the club and the city. It was held at YolanDa’s London music venue and restaurant, Soul Mama, and celebrated both the unifying power of football and the vital work of Newcastle United Foundation across the North East.
Recently announced as a patron of the Foundation and awarded the Freedom of the City of Newcastle, YolanDa hosted an evening featuring a fireside conversation, fan Q&A, live music and fundraising activities including a silent auction, alongside food and drink from the Soul Mama kitchen and bar.
She was joined by Newcastle United Football Club chief executive David Hodgkinson, club legend and loans manager Shola Ameobi, and Newcastle United Foundation chief executive Steve Beharall, with the audience made up of passionate Toon fans from across London and beyond.
The evening was sponsored by Develop North as part of its ongoing community support partnership with the Foundation, helping to raise awareness of the charity’s work engaging and inspiring more than 70,000 people across the North East each year through education, employability, health and community programmes.
Michelle Percy, Chief Executive Officer of Develop North PLC, said: “At Develop North, our strategy is built around investing in places, people and long-term regional growth, and that goes beyond capital alone. Supporting organisations like the Newcastle United Foundation is a natural extension of our region-focused approach, helping to champion the North East, strengthen communities and share what makes this region such a special place to live, work and invest.”
“Events like this bring together people who care deeply about Newcastle, whether they live here or further afield. Many of those in the room were lifelong Toon fans, and we’re proud to support work that makes a real and lasting difference across the region they care so passionately about.”
YolanDa Brown is a double MOBO Award-winning artist, recognised globally for her fusion of reggae, jazz and soul. Her leadership roles include Chair of the British Phonographic Industry, organisers of the BRIT Awards, and she played a key role in bringing the prestigious Mercury Prize awards to Newcastle.
She recently joined Pete Graves, Gabby Logan OBE, Jonathan Edwards CBE and Bob Moncur as a patron of the Newcastle United Foundation, supporting and amplifying its work across the region.
YolanDa said: “As a proud Newcastle United fan, I have seen first-hand the extraordinary reach and impact the Foundation has across the region, engaging and inspiring thousands of people each year through education, employability and community programmes.
“The football club brought so much joy last year, winning a trophy after such a long time, and it reminded us all what it feels like to believe, to keep believing and to win. I want to support the Foundation so more people can have that same chance to find belief and, eventually, win their own personal battles, using the power of football as a force for good far beyond the pitch.”
Steve Beharall added: “YolanDa shares the Foundation’s values as a passionate advocate for young people and positive change, and she brings a wealth of experience and influence that will help amplify our work.
“We would also like to thank Develop North for its invaluable support in helping make this event possible and for its continued commitment to the Foundation, the club and the communities we serve across the North East.”
Develop North is advised by Newcastle-based fund management specialist Tier One Capital. Since its inception in 2017, the London Stock Exchange-listed company has supported 43 projects with a combined Gross Development Value (GDV) of more than £280m and helped support an estimated 12,000 jobs. To date, the company has deployed c.£90m in capital, with 16 projects in its current live portfolio.