Official draw for match day fundraisers

COMMITTEE TO DECIDE ON PERMITS

Permits for match day charity fundraisers at the Stadium of Light will be given the go-ahead in an official draw by councillors next week.

Sunderland City Council (SCC) issues “street collection permits” to individuals to collect funds or sell items for charitable purposes in the city.

On July 2, the council’s regulatory committee will draw a list of charities who have applied to collect funds during Sunderland AFC’s 2018/19 season.

The committee previously granted permits to a single organisation to collect in streets around the Stadium of Light.

In recent years, the committee has allowed organisations to apply for matchday slots which are drawn and allocated in chronological order.

The club’s own charity, The SAFC Foundation, hashistorically requested permits to collect in the street and on its own land for five fixtures of its choice.

Councillors are expected to back the same request from the foundation, leaving 18 fixtures up for grabs in the draw.

It is also suggested that no permits should be allocated for any potential matches involving Newcastle United FC or Middlesbrough FC “in line with police advice”.

The chairman of SCC’s regulatory committee is expected to reveal the successful applicants at Sunderland Civic Centre next week.

With only 15 applications received, failure to meet the 18 matchday slots before July 2 could see the draw put on hold, a report states.

The meeting kicks off at 10am and for more information, visit: www.sunderland. gov.uk.