Liverpool FC superstar Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reds legend Jamie Carragher and Everton FC midfielder Anthony Gordon have teamed up to launch a new initiative to promote opportunities for young people from disadvantaged communities.

Football for Change UK, sponsored by Swinton Insurance, brings together sports stars and business leaders in a collaborative effort to support young people who are not in education, employment or training and talented young people in challenged communities who face barriers to achieving their full potential.

The initiative has been set up by Ian Donaldson, CEO of Atlanta Group, Daniel Hughes, founder of PR agency This Generation and backed by the football stars.

Through a variety of major fundraising activities, Football for Change will distribute grants to organisations supporting young people of school leaving age in the most deprived areas of the North West with a particular focus on supporting them into education, employment and training.

It will also offer support to talented young people who face economic and social barriers to fulfilling their  potential.

Football for Change UK will also 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.

Trent says: “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.

“It is a brilliant initiative and I know from growing up in Liverpool that it is needed now more than ever. ”

Jamie adds: “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.”

Anthony adds: “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.”

Commenting on the launch of Football for Change UK, Ian Donaldson, CEO of Atlanta Group and chair of the initiative, adds: “Football for Change is special. It is a unique and powerful collaboration between sports stars and business leaders who have come together to help young people who are facing hardship in some of the most disadvantaged communities in the country.

“Our aim is to help them overcome the social and economic challenges they face to build better futures. Having personally experienced a tough upbringing in Stoke-on-Trent, the aims of Football for Change are particularly close to my heart. I am incredibly proud to have helped launch this initiative and I am delighted that Swinton is playing a major role as founding partner.”

Football for Change UK’s official fundraising gala launch will take place in February next year.

The organisation is inviting other business leaders to take part by visiting www.footballforchange.org.uk

You can find Football for Change UK on Twitter @FTBLforchange and Instagram @FTBLforchange

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