Former England captain David Beckham has helped unveil the Sky Academy in Isleworth, which aims to create opportunities for one million young people by 2020, and of which he is an ambassador.
According to Sky News, the academy will work to support up-and-coming talent and inspire under-25s across Britain and Ireland through a range of initiatives, such as providing role models from television, sport and the arts.
Beckham, as Sky Academy ambassador, is heading up a team of top athletes, including Jessica Ennis-Hill, Darren Campbell and dancer Ashley Banjo, for the project, the report said.
The former England player said he was excited about the launch and that mentors and role models have always been important to him, adding that when he was young, they helped him to believe in himself and gave him the confidence to follow his dreams.
The academy will also offer a range of scholarships for emerging talents in the sporting and creative fields, the report added.