Last week I took a visit to the FSD Academy at the Mowamacre sports ground. The FSD Academy or football and sports diploma academy was founded by Matthew Piper, who played for Leicester City FC and Owen Johnson. Both of them grew up in Leicester and after meeting them, it is clear to see they are committed to supporting our local young people develop the skills they need for the future.

The Academy help young people who have had difficulties in mainstream education, by giving them another way to succeed. Incredibly, almost half the people who teach at FSD came through the program themselves and can offer that lived experience to the young people they are supporting.

Matt and Owen showed me the brilliant faculties, which after school hours will be open to the public, again providing local young people with access to a safe space out of school hours.