Tottenham ace Jenas tackling youth problems in Nottingham

Tottenham midfield ace Jermaine Jenas is planning to improve opportunities for kids in Nottingham.

His own teenage experiences are the reason he wants to give something back to the kids growing up in his former neighbourhood.

"Nottingham is getting a very bad reputation," he told the News of the World. "It has one of the highest crime rates in the country."

Jenas insists education is the key to tackling that, and he has set up a teacher recruitment company - Ambition Professionals Limited - with lifelong pal Craig Anderson.

Their company has been running for a year with Jenas delivering motivational speeches and handing out signed certificates to the children. He has also been a teaching assistant for a day at a primary school in Hucknall.

"I want to give something back to Nottingham and I want to do it in terms of where I think it matters most - with the kids.

"The crime in Nottingham stems from a lack of opportunities and a lack of direction. This is where we want Ambition to help.

"I try to be inspirational. I went to one primary school where there were a few wide boys, just like I was, saying: 'Oh, I'm going to be a footballer'.

"I just wanted to get through to them that if you become a footballer that's fantastic, but it's a tough road and you have to be very lucky.

"I tried to stress that education is very important."