With the 20th anniversary of Damilola Taylor’s death on Friday 27 November, Richard Taylor OBE and Rio Ferdinand have appeared in an interview in The Sun to share an important message.
Thanking people for their support following his son’s death, Richard emphasised the need for hope. He said: “What matters to me is not just focusing on the tragedy of that day but what we have achieved over the past 20 years. For this 20th anniversary and every anniversary, let’s give young people hope”. Richard also urged young people to never give up and to continue chasing their dreams.
Discussing the importance of giving young people confidence and the right opportunities, Rio said: “I am definitely proof that with a little bit of luck, hard work and with opportunity, things can turn out positively. It’s about building the confidence in young people, getting them the right training and education, having the opportunity at the back end of it then them having the work ethic to make sure it all falls into place”.
Rio’s own charity, the Rio Ferdinand Foundation, aims to help young people achieve their full potential through education, training and employment opportunities. Along with the Damilola Taylor Trust, the Rio Ferdinand Foundation is one of many organisations that form the Hope Collective, who have come together as part of the Hope 2020 legacy campaign to highlight the positive contributions of young people.
To find out more about the Hope 2020 legacy campaign, please visit the Hope 2020 website. To read the full article, please visit The Sun website.
