A FORMER homeless teenager from Brighton is packing his bags for Brazil.

Nathan Bowen will fly out to Rio De Janeiro to be part of the Global Youth Forum on Football for Social Change.

Nathan now works for Albion in the Community and attended their football sessions while living at Brighton Foyer, a hostel in the city for the homeless.

Nathan also captained the England team in 2007 Homeless World Cup.

He said: “I moved out of home when I was 16 and it was difficult. I was living in hostels and at that stage I could have gone down the wrong path.

“I got involved with AITC and they gave me the chance to do something positive with my life.”

He now works as a health development officer for AITC, working on projects across Brighton and Hove that use football to engage young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Nathan added: “I have been able to use my background and experiences to help other young people in a similar situation to me.”

Whilst in Rio de Janeiro, Nathan is hoping to make it to the world famous Maracana Stadium to see a second round game.

Nathan said: “To experience a World Cup in a country where football means so much will be incredible as will the chance to travel and meet new people.

“It is an opportunity I thought I’d never get.”