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Marcus Rashford links with Burberry for his next youth-focused project

The National Literacy Trust has reported that over 400,000 children in the UK do not have access to books. Marcus Rashford, a 23-year-old footballer for Manchester United, has teamed up with the nation’s most iconic fashion brand to change that.

Giving back to the community is part of Marcus Rashford’s modus operandi.

Just when you thought he might enjoy a hiatus after successfully securing free school meals for 1.3 million children, Rashford has announced a new charity partnership that will further uplift young people across the country.

This time, it’s all about education.

New research conducted by the National Literacy Trust has shown that childhood reading significantly impacts cognitive development, regardless of the individual’s socio-economic background. Its findings also revealed that over 400,000 children in the UK do not have access to a single book.

In light of this, Marcus Rashford and Burberry are launching a special initiative to supply children in disadvantaged communities with books both at home and in the classroom.

Through the partnership, the iconic British fashion house will create libraries in 10 underfunded schools across Manchester, Yorkshire, and London. A further 8,000 books will be donated, with library training provided to over 200 teachers across England.

Each school receiving donations will also take part in the Marcus Rashford Book Club, which began earlier this year in partnership with Macmillan Children’s Books.

Thanks to Burberry’s funding, the book club is set to increase its reach an additional 3,500 underprivileged children.

Speaking of the new charity partnership, Rashford said, β€˜These children need the escapism of reading more than most, and access to books should not be restricted by the area you grow up in.’

The collaboration with will further enable Rashford’s charitable work to reach international levels, by offering life-changing funding to community organisations operating on the ground in London, New York, and Asia.

The Manchester United forward admitted that he can be hesitant to agree to commercial partnerships, as it raises concerns over time management. Amidst daily training, multiple league games a week, and juggling a personal life, he is wary that they might subtract from the little time he has to engage in community work.

But Burberry’s offer was of a different calibre.

 

β€˜[The brand] has embarked on this journey with me to influence real positive change within the communities and offer the stability that is so vital to children’s development,’ Rashford told Vogue.

He continued, β€˜With this announcement, Burberry will be viewed by communities like mine to be a saving grace, as a brand that cares about the community and those lesser-off than others. It will be a brand that people will aspire to be part of, and that communities will never forget.’

Hardly in his mid-twenties, Marcus Rashford has already made a huge name for himself in this arena by making it his mission to give back to the people that helped to shape him into who he is today.

Without a doubt, we can expect him to continue adding to his list of charitable achievements for many years to come.

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