Burberry Partners With Marcus Rashford For Children’s Literacy Program

Burberry has launched a partnership with international footballer and youth advocate Marcus Rashford in support of children’s literacy. In the U.K. Burberry is working directly with the National Literacy Trust (NLT) to develop child literacy programs and support organisations working with disadvantaged children.

Burberry will be providing funding to transform and build school libraries and donating boos to ensure children have access to safe environments and resources. The British brand will also support organisations in the U.S. and Asia to create new libraries in underserved communities.

“Far too many children do not currently have access to books, typically because of financial restraints,” said Marcus Rashford. “Access to books should not be restricted by the area you grow up in. Coming out of the pandemic, there was a huge need for safe spaces – a space where children could come and just breathe; process their feelings.

Last month the NLT reported that one in four schools in England’s most disadvantaged communities do not have a library or any designated reading space, compared to a national average of one in eight schools. Burberry’s funding will go directly to the transformation of library spaces in 10 schools most in need across Manchester, Yorkshire and London, positively impacting the lives of over 3,500 children.

In the U.K., the 10 schools involved will take part in the Marcus Rashford Book Club and will receive a donation of 8,000 books. Curated by the NLT and provided by Macmillan Children’s Books and other publishers, the initiative will ensure that the children receive a diverse selection of illustrated, award-winning fiction and non-fiction books. Dedicated training and access to NLT resources will also be provided to 200 teachers across the country.

In the U.S. Burberry will continue to expand upon its existing partnership with Wide Rainbow to provide access to arts education in underserved neighbourhoods. Funding will help to create 15 libraries across New York City, providing over 100 children’s books to each space in NYC and its outer boroughs as well as three larger libraries in Los Angele and Detroit.

In Asia, Burberry will donate to Bring Me a Book Hong Kong – providing over 500 books to youth centres in the region and bespoke storytelling workshops for the organisation’s volunteers, and to the Japan School Library Association to help increase book donations to school libraries across the region.

”Providing safe spaces for the next generation to stretch their imaginations and craft their own stories, drawing inspiration from a diverse range of literature, is critical to developing their confidence and ambitions for the future,” said Pam Batty the VP of Corporate Responsibility at Burberry.

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