The England football team has set up an initiative to improve opportunities for young people in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country.

Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves launched the first 11 projects that engaged with some of the hardest hit communities worst effected by deprivation including poor housing, health, education, disability, high incidences of crime, racial and drug abuse.

The players’ Outreach Programme works with children and young adults aged 12-21 years to tackle a variety of social issues through football-led activities.  Now into its third season, the initiative supports over 28 projects and has extended its reach into coaching qualification bursaries and provides football training packs to community groups across the country.

Speaking about the TEFC Outreach Programme, Rio Ferdinand said: “We want to provide much needed opportunities and outlets for young people to benefit through football, whether that is purely participating in activities or gaining coaching qualifications to better themselves and the community they come from.”

Wythenshawe Youth FC, one of the projects identified by the TEFC spoke out about their new found support:

“Having established ourselves through a social inclusion scheme, we now have the opportunity to offer something back to the community. The England teams’ investment will allow us to continue as a club and expand to benefit the community and surrounding areas.”

Owen Hargreaves added: “It is our hope our intervention will not only financially secure projects like Wythenshawe Youth FC but encourage future aspirations and achievements.”