Ford donations to East London youth football scheme exceed £200,000

Budding east London footballers are benefiting from Ford support, which has reached £210,000, for the Thames Gateway Youth Football Project.

Ford Dagenham, the capital's largest manufacturing employer, has supported the project for seven years. In that time the Dagenham estate, Ford's global centre for the design and manufacture of diesel engines, has made the six-figure contribution – with the latest £20,000 donation handed over at this week's West Ham vs Liverpool Premiership game.

West Ham is one of four London soccer clubs providing professional coaching and guidance to the five- to 24-year-olds helped by the Thames Gateway Youth Football Project. The other clubs are Charlton, Millwall and Dagenham & Redbridge.

The Project uses football as a major influence to raise the standards, life skills and expectations of participants taking part from 13 London boroughs. They benefit from the Project's educational and sporting opportunities such as drop-in football sessions on east London estates, courses leading to Football Association-recognised coaching qualifications and after-school soccer clubs.

In partnership with Ford, the Project organises summer football coaching at the company's sports and social club to reward young people from Barking and Dagenham whose grades, behaviour and attendance have improved.

Andy Taylor, Ford corporate citizenship director who presented this year's £20,000 contribution, said: "It is tremendous to have this innovative football project focused on areas local to our Ford Dagenham site. By using the universal appeal of football, real changes for the better can be made – which all help to establish a greater sense of community across east London and have a long term benefit for the region's regeneration."

Eric Sorensen, chief executive of Thames Gateway London Partnership, said: "Ford is an extremely significant Thames Gateway employer. This sponsorship will enable the Thames Gateway Youth Football Project to continue to bring sport, personal development and employment opportunities to local communities – benefiting an area which is the biggest regeneration project in Europe."

There are 4,000 people employed at Ford's Dagenham plant, which remains Greater London's largest industrial centre, majoring on diesel engines but also producing vehicle body panels and wheels. Ford Transport Operations, also based on site, move vehicles and components via its Dagenham rail, road and sea hub.