Rio Ferdinand Foundation

Our latest programme in Greater Manchester, in partnership with Findel, is empowering young people to reach their full potential while supporting a local community business. Through weekly sessions, these young people will learn new skills, gain qualifications and help promote the Water Adventure Centre through video production, highlighting the centre's range of activities. Thank you to Findel for continuing to help us #PowerPotential in Greater Manchester. #FindelFriday

Another great trip to South Africa has come to an end for our CEO Gary Stannett MBE, as we continue to build on our existing relationships and check in on this year's group of aspiring sports leaders from the Cape Flats. Our leadership training programme, in collaboration with eta College, South African Football Association, Rygate FA and Junction Rovers FA, provides accredited sports coaching and sports administration, alongside leadership training to a group of community volunteers. Keep an eye on our channels for more exciting content from our 🇿🇦 trip coming soon! #CreatingOpportunities

A week in pictures 📸 It's been a busy 7 days in Greater Manchester for our team working in Oldham, Tameside and Salford, delivering a wide range of programmes, developing creative skills, business mindsets, and community leaders. Through funders like Findel, we have provided hundreds of young people from the Greater Manchester area with essential life skills that broaden their mindsets, elevate their skills and empower them to reach their potential. #FindelFriday #PoweringPotential

"It has given me numerous opportunities, amazing experiences, and many new friendships." Our programme with the International Fund for Ireland really did go #BeyondTheBall! Last week, we were delighted to launch our publication, “They are just like us” - an Ulster University evaluation of our Beyond the Ball programme. This publication highlights young people’s experiences, along with recommendations for expanding opportunities, broadening inclusion, and strengthening police engagement. To read the full report, head to: https://lnkd.in/ehXFcAmG #BeyondTheBall

Behind the scenes at our final cross-border, cross-community football tournament at Drogheda United FC 📹 Teams from Sligo, Drogheda, Omagh, Belfast and Enniskillen joined us for an unforgettable day of community connection and energy, as we came together for one final celebration of the 'Beyond the Ball' programme. You can read a full report of our and the International Fund for Ireland's partnership programme, conducted by Ulster University, here: https://lnkd.in/ehXFcAmG The evaluation highlights young people’s experiences of participating in the programme, along with recommendations for expanding opportunities, broadening inclusion, and strengthening police engagement. #BeyondTheBall

The headline stats from our and the International Fund for Ireland's partnership programme, Beyond the Ball 🔢 Want to learn more about our cross-border, cross-community programme? Read our full evaluation report, conducted by Ulster University, here: https://lnkd.in/ehXFcAmG #BeyondTheBall

To celebrate the launch of our 'Beyond the Ball' evaluation report, we're taking a look at some of the programme's highlights, including our three-day adventure in London, a unique overseas trip for community connection, skills development and cultural enrichment. Twenty young people from Ireland and Northern Ireland united with twenty of their peers from London in a visit that fosters cross-border relationships and the sharing of experiences and challenges. Our evaluation highlighted that trips like these increased confidence, skills, and cross-community friendships. The full report, an Ulster University evaluation of our and International Fund for Ireland's partnership programme, can be read here: https://lnkd.in/ehXFcAmG #BeyondTheBall

We are delighted to share our most recent publication; “They are just like us” - An Ulster University evaluation of the Rio Ferdinand Foundation’s Beyond the Ball programme (2024-25), an International Fund for Ireland partnership programme designed to improve relations across border counties.   The evaluation report highlights young people’s experiences of participating in the programme, along with recommendations for expanding opportunities, broadening inclusion, and strengthening police engagement; key findings from young people show increased confidence, skills, and cross-community friendships. To read the full report, head to: https://lnkd.in/ehXFcAmG #BeyondTheBall