A volunteer on one of Nacro’s football projects in Bournemouth has won funding which will allow him to spend two months working with disadvantaged young people in his community.

Lee Park, 24, from Boscombe has been volunteering for Nacro for over three years, giving football coaching in deprived areas of Bournemouth.

He's now been selected from thousands of applicants to take part in the Vodafone World of Difference Scheme. It means he’ll be given funding which will allow him to spend two months working full-time reaching out to young people through sport.

Lee says: “I had a very tough upbringing, so I can identify with the kinds of problems these kids are facing. I really want to be a positive role model for young people growing up in my area, and give them the kind of opportunities I never had.

“I don’t have many happy memories in my own childhood, but through volunteering for Nacro, I feel as though I’m creating memories that these kids will be able to look back on and smile.

“I can’t believe that what started out as just a bit of football coaching a few years has opened up so many doors for me. Nacro has given me training in things like safeguarding children and sports leadership. I’ve just finished introduction to youth work training and I really want to go into that full-time. Hopefully this opportunity will help me achieve that goal."