Why Collaboration is the most powerful currency
For more than 15 years, meaningful collaboration with industry partners has shaped the Rio Ferdinand Foundation model, a way of working that demonstrates what’s possible when organisations work together. For over a decade, through shared commitment, insight, and access, we have brought young people behind the curtain of the creative and professional worlds, revealing opportunities they may never have known existed.
In its purest form, collaboration is the strongest kind of partnership. It goes far beyond writing cheques or supporting charities from a distance. Real impact happens when organisations open their doors, share expertise, and create clear pathways into industries that, for many young people, can often feel closed off.
“Real impact happens when organisations open their doors, share expertise, and create clear pathways into industries that, for many young people, can often feel closed off.”
In 2025, we embarked on and developed collaborations with partners across music, fashion, sport, media, and live events, including Warner Music, Kiss/Bauer Media, Ralph Lauren, Festival Republic, Live Nation, UEFA, the Jockey Club, and Lyle & Scott. These partnerships reflect a shared belief that connections, particularly in the creative industries, are the most powerful form of currency.
Why collaboration matters
We live in a world where collaboration is king, and its value often exceeds any cash donation. Collaborative initiatives give young people direct access to professionals, mentors, and real working environments. It’s not just about funding programmes; it s about opening doors and providing experiences that build confidence, clarify expectations, and help young people begin forming the networks critical to long-term success.
“It’s not just about funding programmes; it s about opening doors and providing experiences.”
In just one year, our partnerships helped thousands young people across the UK and Ireland to explore a wide range of roles, from production, design, and event management to marketing, digital content, data analysis, and community engagement, broadening aspirations and unlocking viable career pathways. These partnerships delivered training, careers events, workplace mentoring, and work placements. The result was tangible opportunity: paid work and internships, bursaries for traineeships, and enriched participant experiences that extend far beyond financial support.
As we move into 2026, we look forward to deeper, bolder collaboration with both new and long-standing partners, remaining steadfast in our belief that true collaboration doesn’t just fund change, it creates it.
