Current Liverpool and Everton players, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Anthony Gordon, as well as Jamie Carragher are looking to create opportunities for young people. Tony McDonough reports
Mersey football stars back drive to provide opportunities for young people from disadvantaged communities.
Current Liverpool and Everton players, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Anthony Gordon, are joining forces with Reds legend Jamie Carragher on Football for Change UK which will target young people of school-leaving age in the most deprived areas of the North West.
Sponsored by Swinton Insurance, Football for Change UK brings together sports stars and business leaders in a collaborative effort to support young people who are not in education, employment or training.
It aims to support talented young people in disadvantaged communities who face barriers to achieving their full potential. The initiative has been set up by Ian Donaldson, chief executive of the Atlanta Group insurance company, and backed by the football stars.
Through a variety of major fundraising activities, Football for Change UK will distribute grants to organisations supporting young people. It will use football stars and business leaders, who have succeeded in the face of adversity, as role models to promote social mobility.
Trent, Anthony and Jamie all grew up in communities on Merseyside facing deprivation. They say they want to do what they can to improve the life chances of young people in these areas.
“Football for Change is about helping young people onto a positive path. It is footballers and football fans coming together with a goal to help improve the life chances and opportunities of young people from some of the most challenged neighbourhoods in the country,” said Trent.
“It is a brilliant initiative and I know from growing up in Liverpool that it is needed now more than ever.”
Anthony added: “I am proud to join the other players, using our platform, to help this brilliant initiative change lives for the better. We’re all aiming to give young people from disadvantaged communities a platform towards a brighter future.”
The organisation is inviting other business leaders to take part by visiting www.footballforchange.org.uk
And Jamie also said: “Football for Change can change lives by giving young people, who’ve often felt left out or left behind, a fair chance in life. It is all about giving them the tools to do something positive whether that be in education, employment or in sport.”