Rio Ferdinand Foundation Launches United Against Racism
April 30, 2021
UK charity, Rio Ferdinand Foundation, has launched a new youth-led programme, United Against Racism, to help tackle inequality with the goal to “change the narrative around racism, inspire the youth voice, connect communities and empower change.”
Along with partners across varied sectors, including Sky, Music Against Racism, UEFA Foundation, LDN United, the Professional Football Association, Phoenix Sports Media Group, New Era and the Black Police Association, the new social action initiative aims to deliver the momentum for change seen in communities and spearheaded by global events addressing racism.
It will run throughout the year and will include a series of youth and community programmes across the UK and Ireland, e-sports tournaments, podcasts and high profile regional events led by youth ambassadors.
Set up by former Manchester United star Rio Ferdinand in 2012, the Foundation addresses the issues of inequality that he had experienced in his own life. The English former professional footballer set up the Foundation to support and empower young people from working-class communities, to tackle racism and inequality and provide opportunities to deliver social mobility.
Ferdinand said: “United Against Racism bring together communities, businesses and other stakeholders to support young people and empower them to develop skills and deliver projects that will tackle inequality and racism in their neighbourhoods. It’s a youth-led initiative to bring communities together through the power of sports, music and all areas of popular culture, underpinned by training and skills-based activities to help them achieve their potential in life.”
This latest programme was released as the charity celebrates 10 years of creating strong, safe and inclusive communities. Over 10,000 young people have been engaged in safe spaces since it was formed.
Global events, such as the killing of George Floyd in summer 2020, reignited the social movement Black Lives Matter and created the momentum for change we see in our communities. The Rio Ferdinand Foundation works to strengthen the UK’s most deprived communities to tackle inequality, and the United Against Racism programme sits at the heart of its core beliefs.
“Our programmes will be delivered face to face in communities and online and will have a reach across the UK and Ireland. I am proud of the young people that have built this programme to date and would like to ask people to get involved and support our young people in any way they can to deliver change and tackle racism at a grassroots level,” said Ferdinand.