Leon, who won a silver medal for diving at Athens in 2004 and who has lived in Sheffield since 1997, backed the Pledge for Success campaign which was launched in the City Hall ballroom.

The initiative has been set up by Sheffield First Partnership and the council to improve how children are supported in schools, homes and communities.

The first stage of the campaign is to encourage local businesses and organisations to sign up to pledge what support they can offer to help the city's young people get the best start in life.

Over 150 business contacts attended the launch event along with young people, and Leon urged them to sign up to the campaign by announcing his own two pledges of support.

He said: "I'm supporting this fantastic campaign in Sheffield and I pledge to be a role model for young people with sporting ambitions, mentoring them where I can. I also pledge to raise the profile of Sheffield in the field of sport."

Council leader Paul Scriven said the get-together was just the starting point for Pledge for Success.

"Our young people are the key to a successful future for Sheffield. There are too many children leaving school without fulfilling their potential," he said.

"Six out of 10 children leave school without five good GCSEs including English and maths and it's not good enough.

"I want to make sure our city offers young people the support they need to achieve, to help turn ambitions into reality.

"We are asking local people to do something no matter how small which will make a big difference to individuals."

Actors from Sheffield Theatres' Young Associates Network gave a performance highlighting the struggle young people face when they are trying to start out on their chosen career path.
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