Did you know Black and minority households in the UK are more likely to live in poverty? According to a study carried out by the Social Metrics Commission, almost half (46%) of people living in a family in the UK where the head of the household is Black are in poverty. The latest annual report by the Social Metrics Commission found that nearly half of Black African Caribbean households were in poverty, compared with just under one in five white families, while Black and Minority Ethnic (BAME) families were between two and three times as likely to be in persistent poverty than white households.
In the season of giving, Burberry is championing the power of giving back – to nurture the next generation, allowing them to explore their dreams and always go beyond. In the long run, these initiatives will positively affect the lives of young Black people in the UK.
A closer look at the charitable initiatives to empower youth
Partnering with English international footballer and youth advocate, Marcus Rashford MBE, Burberry joins forces with charities supporting young people across the world, empowering the voices that will shape our tomorrow. In support of his efforts to end child food poverty, Burberry has continued to provide donations to FareShare, which will fund over 200,000 meals distributed across 11,000 charities and community groups across the UK.
Burberry pledges to support UK youth organisations in Manchester, London, and charities with a global reach. Programmes range from education to supporting young creatives and artists and helping entrepreneurs tackle some of the world’s significant challenges. These outreaches will positively affect the lives of tens of thousands of young people across the world – encouraging and enabling them to achieve.
In London, Burberry is working with London Youth, which supports a network of over 600 community youth organisations and creates thousands of engaging opportunities for young people each year. In Manchester, Burberry supported Norbrook Youth Club and Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre, which are both youth centres that played a pivotal role in Rashford’s childhood. Youth volunteers from the two clubs came together as part of the partnership to help charities in the Wythenshawe area where the clubs are based and Rashford grew up.
Alongside these youth centres, Burberry is contributing to Wide Rainbow, a non-profit based in New York City providing access to the arts and arts education in neighbourhoods across the United States with little to no resources. To further the international reach of this work, Burberry is partnering with the International Youth Foundation to contribute to the Global Youth Resiliency Fund. This will enable young entrepreneurs and community leaders, especially in Asia, to develop solutions to challenges including closing nutrition gaps and unlocking access to livelihoods.
Alongside their initiative to improve the living conditions of the youth, despite the COVID-19 pandemic halting in-person runaway shows, Burberry teamed up
with a number of influencers to improve the online experience and reach a wide audience. To challenge the impact of COVID-19 and protect their community, Burberry turned all live shows into digital events accessible to audiences around the world.
How Burberry’s new initiative can help
Burberry in partnership with London Youth is making sure at least 15 youth centers receive grants to further their programmes. If the youths are able to attain a high level of educational background, they are one step away from poverty and a lot closer to living a better life. Their initiative to support over 600 community youth organisations and create thousands of engaging opportunities for young people each year will foster networking opportunities across Black communities in the UK. Here, Black youths and professionals will have the opportunity to network/interact with professionals alike.
To learn more about Burberry or to apply for their upcoming roles, please visit their BYP jobs board here
