Rio Ferdinand kicks off campaign to stop youth services cuts

Rio Ferdinand has kicked off a campaign to stop cuts to youth services.

The former England captain, who grew up on a council estate in south London, said without youth leaders in the community he "might have got lost" instead of becoming an international football star.

He is fighting government proposals to slash resources for children through the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, which supports thousands of teenagers in Manchester and London.

The 37-year-old said if he had not become a footballer he would have been a youth worker.

Ferdinand said a lot of young people "feel disengaged" with elections because they "don't feel considered".

The Rio Ferdinand Foundation runs crime-prevention initiatives, community footballing sessions and training in employment skills for young people.