Leo Brown-Paving the way for a better future

My first year at the Rio Ferdinand Foundation has been far more than I could ever expect, everything from the detail and quality of the events to the outstanding staff.

I initially got involved with the Foundation because the Foundation's aims and goals line up perfectly with my own goals. Not only that, there's great warmth, togetherness and home-like culture within the Foundation, and you can see that togetherness and genuine care in every project and event they do, big or small, and that comes directly from top to bottom.

A great example of this is the Youth In Action programme last September. A great event that opens many doors for less privileged young refugee asylum seekers, providing a sense of unity with the local community and creating leaders that will lead and guide others in the future to seek fairness and equality.

Equality and unity are rooted deeply in the Foundation, and this is where I get a lot of my motivation.

I also must give a big shout out to CEO Gary Stannett, who I work closely with, as he has been very welcoming and interactive with me. Seeing how hard Gary works and how passionate he is to create change and make a difference no matter how big or small has inspired me with the work I do with the Foundation and in my personal life.

Being part of the Foundation for only a year has opened many doors that I thought were never possible. Looking back at specifically the Hope Cup last summer, I never thought I'd be capable of public speaking in a million years!

Leo Brown for Ted Talk Stormant

I've since done several interviews, most notably with Rio himself on BT sports, and I even managed to pull off a ted talk. All the support I get from the Foundation allows me to have the confidence to take these opportunities they provide me.

What's great about the Foundation is the support in my career; I have had a lot of adversity, from being a pro athlete to working on a construction site, dealing with mental health issues and many injuries. I can now use all of this to create motivational workshops and speak publicly to help others who may be in the same or experienced the same situation as myself. The Foundation provides a platform for me to do that.

I am currently pursuing my football dreams of becoming a pro again and representing my country again.

The Foundation and I have a strong desire with helping improve life quality and employment chances for young people, especially with Northern Ireland being one of the worst countries in Europe regarding mental health and having the lowest employment rate in the UK. We must work to improve this by creating programmes, workshops, and safe spaces and collaborating to help start to make a difference.

There is no better time than now to join us in what will be a big year of change. We, young people, have a voice, and now more than ever, we have the platforms to project these ideas and voices to people who can make that difference. Young people are the future, and we must support and pave the way for a better future. As individuals and as a collective, we have the chance to leave a positive mark on history, and I honestly believe that RFF will be at the forefront of making that difference!