Rio Ferdinand Foundation launches youth project for various communities in Derry

Pictured at the launch of the Choice Housing / Rio Ferdinand Foundation cross-community project are (L-R Back) Chelsea FC Ambassador Paul Canoville, Choice Group Chief Executive, Michael McDonnell, Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Councillor Lilian Seenoi-Barr and Rio Ferdinand Foundation CEO Gary Stannett. Front row (L-R) – Derry area project participants Ben Keenan and Jake McGavigan. The launch event was held at the Waterside Shared Village community hub, marking the start of the new project when it hosted a football tournament bringing together a range of teams

A successful pilot project launched by Choice Housing in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation is being expanded to support young people in Derry.

For an initial six-month period last year, the two organisations worked together to improve the lives of 100 young people in south and east Belfast. It proved so effective in engaging schoolgoers – and building community cohesion – that the work was extended for a further 12 months.

Now children in Northern Ireland’s second largest city are set to benefit from the initiative, which focuses primarily on the Strand Road area – an area where Choice Housing has residents and properties, and where positive community intervention can strengthen relationships.

The programme offers a range of personal and professional development programmes and includes a combination of sports, music, media and arts projects.

Opportunities for progression are also available with established partners of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, including Warner Music UK/Ireland, UEFA Foundation, Community Foundation NI and Catalyst Belfast.

An event at the Waterside Shared Village community hub on Wednesday kicked off the new project as it hosted a football tournament bringing together teams, players and coaches from Belfast, Enniskillen, Omagh and Sligo. Teams from Bogside, Waterside and Fountain Estate in Derry also entered the competition.

Michael McDonnell, CEO of Choice Group, and Gary Stannett, CEO of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, were joined at the event by Chelsea FC Ambassador Paul Canoville, who spoke about how he overcame racial barriers to become the first black player to wear the famous blue shirt, and how he battled addiction issues after a serious injury forced him to retire at the age of 24.

Mayor of Derry and Strabane, Lilian Seenoi-Barr, also spoke at the launch event, praising the young participants and welcoming the partnership between Choice Housing and the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and the vital support that the initiative is providing to young people in the region.

Michael McDonnell said: “Choice Housing’s work goes beyond just building good quality, affordable homes. We are also deeply committed to supporting local communities, and by expanding our cross-community project in partnership with the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, we will achieve this by creating new opportunities for the young people of Derry-Londonderry.

“Similar to the positive work that has been taking place in South and East Belfast since early last year, participants will have the opportunity to develop and significantly improve their prospects, while also improving their mental health and wellbeing.

“Working with partners like the Rio Ferdinand Foundation allows us to identify where projects can have the greatest impact and which areas will benefit most in the future,” he added.

The seven-a-side football tournament was the first in a series of initiatives planned for the next twelve months, which aim to bring diverse communities together to foster community spirit and promote good relations by encouraging interaction and cooperation.

The event was launched at the Waterside Shared Village.

Increasing youth engagement through using sport as a positive outlet and creating networking opportunities between local community members and organisations are also cornerstones of the cross-community project in Derry.

During this period we expect a total of 200 participants between the ages of 13 and 19 to engage in positive activities. Of these, 100 will achieve at least one accreditation, 50 will participate in social action projects and another 50 per community will benefit from engaging and motivating career events.

The Rio Ferdinand Foundation was founded by former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand and has been operating in Northern Ireland since 2016. The foundation provides mentoring and employment pathways to help young people in economically disadvantaged communities.

Gary Stannett, CEO of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, said: “The Rio Ferdinand Foundation is delighted to extend our partnership and collaboration with Choice Housing to Derry-Londonderry this week.

“Housing associations can play a vital role in community development. In Northern Ireland, Choice Housing has been a key partner for us in delivering positive activities that bring people together from all communities and backgrounds, providing training opportunities and introducing career paths and opportunities for young people.

“This expansion will give young people in Derry-Londonderry the chance to access new opportunities similar to those offered in Belfast over the past year, and the network of local organisations that have come together to host this launch event has not only demonstrated the interest in this initiative, but also the great work that is already being done in the city. I look forward to seeing the project and the partnership network grow and flourish over the coming months.”

In addition to supporting community projects, Choice also provides skills-based programmes and scholarships to young people in Northern Ireland, including through the Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University Student Internship Programmes.