Burberry has transformed its community programme, Burberry Inspire, into a global initiative that will support 500,000 young people over the next three years.
Burberry today announced that it is expanding The Burberry Foundation’s flagship community initiative, Burberry Inspire, into a global youth empowerment programme to support young people.
Designed in partnership between Burberry Group plc, The Burberry Foundation and global partner, International Youth Foundation (IYF), the expanded Burberry Inspire programme aims to create opportunities for more than 500,000 young people over the next three years to unlock their creativity and drive positive change in their lives and communities.
With a focus on young people aged between 10 and 24, the programme will inspire, equip and elevate their voices by taking a wider and more holistic approach to channelling creativity. Using frameworks defined by the Creative Youth Development National Partnership, the programme will not only foster creativity through the visual and performing arts, but also support STEM-related skills and encourage leadership through both personal development and social engagement.
The expanded programme is supported by eight regional partners including CSV Milano, Community Youth Center (CYC) of San Francisco, Girls Inc. of New York City, Girl Scouts of Japan, Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA), Future for Youth Foundation in Korea, New York Edge and a current Burberry Foundation partner, OnSide in the UK. Each partner will work closely with young people in their local communities to design and tailor the programme to their respective region. Further partners in additional regions are due to be announced as the programme commences, including in Hong Kong S.A.R., China.
The new Burberry Inspire programme builds on the success of The Burberry Foundation’s flagship community initiative of the same name, which ran from 2018 to 2022. Over those four years, it brought schools in Britain and the United States together with locally renowned arts and culture organisations to explore the positive impact that the creative arts can have on young people’s lives.
“Burberry has been guided by the belief that creativity opens spaces since it was founded more than 160 years ago. Today, with the support of The Burberry Foundation and our partners, we are expanding the Burberry Inspire programme to create more opportunities for young people around the world. By developing their skills and broadening their horizons, together we hope to make a positive difference in their lives as well as the lives of those around them."
“At the International Youth Foundation (IYF), we believe all young people possess the potential to transform their lives and create positive change in the world. This fundamental belief is also at the heart of Burberry Inspire. Together with local youth-serving organisations around the globe, we will equip and support young people to unlock their creativity, develop their confidence, share their voices with the world and create the bright future to which they are entitled. If that’s not inspiring, I don’t know what is.”
The International Youth Foundation (IYF) stands by, for and with young people. Founded in 1990, it is a global non-profit organisation with programmes directly benefiting eight million young people and operations spanning over 105 countries. Together with local community-based organisations and a network of partners, it connects young people with opportunities to transform their lives. The IYF believes that educated, employed and engaged young people possess the power to solve the world’s most challenging problems. Its vision is to see young people inspired and equipped to realise the future they want. Visit www.iyfglobal.org to learn more.
CSV Milano’s mission is to promote the development of volunteerism and active citizenship in Milan, Italy. Founded in 1997, it serves 1,000 young people annually as part of the Italian volunteering network CSVnet, collaborating with schools, universities and other organisations. For more information, visit www.csvlombardia.it/milano
Veronica Degan, Project Coordinator at CSV Milano, said, “At CSV Milano, our role is to promote, support and qualify volunteering in all its forms to support social change and respond to the needs of our communities. We’re so excited to be participating in Burberry Inspire because it will help us provide the tools to improve the creative skills of young people and, in turn, increase their self-esteem, self-confidence, teamwork and communication – all essential for becoming the adults of tomorrow. We are looking forward to coming together with Burberry, IYF and The Burberry Foundation to build an open window for the community to demonstrate the potential of this generation, which often remains unheard or silent.”
Community Youth Center of San Francisco (CYC) provides the young people in San Francisco, California with a sense of belonging and the tools and experiences to succeed in life. Founded in 1970, it serves over 8,000 people each year and is one of only a few agencies in San Francisco addressing the needs of a diverse population of low-income, high-need and at-risk Asian Pacific Islander, Latinx and African American young people. Its many services include academic and college counselling, job placement and employment training, substance abuse and violence prevention education, crisis intervention and mediation, leadership development, and technology and computer training.
Sarah Wan, Executive Director at the CYC, said, “For over 53 years, Community Youth Center of San Francisco has provided the diverse youth of our city with a sense of belonging and the necessary tools and experiences to succeed in life. Now, with the support of the Burberry Inspire programme – which we are thrilled to be a part of – we can broaden our impact and provide vital resources to help our young people discover and unlock their potential in academic achievement, creativity and leadership. The direct effects of this partnership will be seen in the expanded opportunities our youth will have to help others and learn from their peers, to refine their skills and to amplify their voices. Above all, we look forward to witnessing our youth at CYC become more engaged and invested members of their community, inspiring others as they’ve inspired us.”
Founded in 1998, Girls Inc. of New York City (GINYC) supports girls, young women and gender-expansive youth throughout New York City. Through education and advocacy, it prepares them to navigate gender, economic and social barriers to advance to a more equitable world. The organisation serves 10,000 students annually across more than 150 middle and high schools, with comprehensive, ‘whole girl’ programming that fits directly into the framework of creative youth development. The programmes, which encompass STEM, mental health, entrepreneurship, college and career readiness and success, media literacy, leadership and more, have a strong social justice lens and are designed to reinforce each other. They encourage young people to think critically and creatively about global and local issues and to identify problems and work towards solutions, while building a sense of community in a safe space.
April Caldwell, Chief Programs Officer at GINYC, said, “Girls Inc. of New York City inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold. Our research-based, culturally relevant curricula – delivered by trained professionals – equips girls for academic success and prepares them to live healthy and physically active lives. What excites me most about the Burberry Inspire programme is that it will provide opportunities for our girls to create change within their communities. For example, we are creating and designing a conference for nearly 1,000 girls to come together and develop the skills to advocate for themselves and their communities. Through creating, organising and connecting, we believe that they will be able to uplift each other’s voices to create change across New York City.”
The Girl Scouts of Japan (GSJ) has been a leader in positive youth development in Japan for more than 100 years – and holds a unique place in the country. Founded in 1920, GSJ’s work is at the community level, serving more than 30,000 girls and women annually. For more information, visit www.girlscout.or.jp.
Nanae Aida, National Commissioner of Girl Scouts of Japan, said, “We are very pleased to be a part of the Burberry Inspire programme and look forward to increasing opportunities for our young people to develop their creativity. Girl Scouts has transformed the lives of girls and young women worldwide for over 100 years and has always placed value on utilising practical skills to empower and create global citizens. Through the programme, we will be enabled to enhance and expand our efforts, offering our Girl Scouts the opportunity to channel creativity into their learning experiences and into action to make a better world.”
Founded in 1989, Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) helps over 3,100 young people annually overcome barriers through exceptional free, integrated programmes and personalised guidance in a trusted, nurturing environment. HOLA’s mission is guided by their core values: respect, responsibility, support, positive communication and inclusion. HOLA has academic programmes, as well as a wide variety of enrichment offerings that expose students to engaging and innovative opportunities. These include a dynamic music and youth orchestra, a sophisticated visual arts department, sport offerings, STEAM classes (science, technology, engineering, arts and maths), wraparound counselling and family resource services, as well as alumni support and scholarships. Across all HOLA’s programmes, students have access to creative learning experiences that nurture cognitive development, personal growth, leadership and cultural expression.
Tony Brown, CEO of HOLA, said, “We believe young people can achieve anything when given equitable access to the tools for success. Through Burberry Inspire, we’re excited to be able to give young people the access they deserve to high-quality arts programming and creative opportunities in a variety of spaces. There is no end to what we can accomplish when we invest in the creative capacity of our young people. At Heart of Los Angeles, we pride ourselves on helping youth to find inventive solutions for today’s problems, so that we can have a brighter future tomorrow.”
Future for Youth Foundation (FYF) is a social welfare foundation that specialises in supporting children and young adults. Founded in 2000 in Seoul, South Korea, it is dedicated to fostering talent, with the vision of a society where everyone can achieve a bright and healthy future. It runs professional social contribution projects such as education and mentoring programmes, scholarships and educational environment-improvement projects. FYF believes that creative development opportunities play a vital role in helping young people identify their strengths, determine a career path and prepare for future success. It serves over 200,000 youth annually. For more information, visit https://eng.kidsfuture.or.kr/project/domesticProjects.php.
Doyeon Kim, Assistant Manager at FYF, said, “The Burberry Inspire programme will support an initiative that enables all young people to unleash their inherent creativity through science, engineering, maths and the arts, and to grow leaders of tomorrow through activities and experiences that proactively address the many challenges facing our society. Through the experience of working in a team, as part of a programme designed to improve leadership and problem-solving skills based on creativity, teens will develop communication and collaboration skills that are essential for their future.”
New York Edge is the largest provider of after-school programming in New York City, serving 30,000 students across all five boroughs of NYC, as well as in Long Island. Founded in 1992, its mission is to help bridge the opportunity gap among students in underinvested communities by providing programmes designed to improve academic performance, health and wellbeing, self-confidence and leadership skills. NYE offers relevant programming in STEM, the visual and performing arts, sport, and college and career readiness across 160 locations. For more information, visit newyorkedge.org.
Rachel Gazdick, CEO of New York Edge, said, “What excites me about the Burberry Inspire programme is the opportunity that it brings to our children. Our kids are passionate, and they need the tools and equipment, as well as the teachers and resources, to really ignite their creativity and find out what they are good at. This type of partnership allows our students to spark their intellectual curiosity and be guided through how they can imagine themselves in the future. The impact is tremendous, not just on our students, but on their families, their communities and the next generation.”
OnSide is a British charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose. It funds and builds state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound Youth Zones in some of the UK’s most economically disadvantaged areas – and trains the amazing people that run them. It offers continuing support to young people through the nationwide OnSide Network, where they can learn and grow, share and celebrate their success together.
Youth Zones are purpose-built spaces fizzing with energy and crammed with incredible facilities. They offer 20 activities each night, ranging from football, climbing and media to skating, DJing, drama and employability training, with entry costing just 50p along with a £5 membership. They are staffed by skilled and dedicated youth workers who truly believe in young people – helping them see what they could achieve and giving them the skills, confidence and ambition to go for it.
Over 50,000 young people are already members of the OnSide Network at 14 Youth Zones – with other Youth Zones currently in development in West London, Bristol, Grimsby, Preston and Barnsley.
Each Youth Zone is an independent charity with its own private sector-led board and is part of the OnSide Network. This model of local ownership is a key factor in ensuring the financial sustainability of each Youth Zone. The Youth Zone provides a way for local communities to actively support their young people between the ages of 8 and 19 (or up to 25 for those with additional needs).
Visit www.onsideyouthzones.org for more details.
Jamie Masraff, CEO at OnSide, said, “Partnering with Burberry for this programme is exciting for us at OnSide and even more so for the young people we work with across our Youth Zone Network. Our Youth Zones support young people in some of the most deprived areas of the UK by providing them with opportunities they otherwise would not have had – and that is exactly what Burberry Inspire is all about. We know that talent is evenly distributed across the UK, but opportunity is not. By engaging with the activities and support we will be able to offer, thanks to Burberry, young people will be able to increase their confidence and develop creative skills that will hugely benefit them throughout their lives.”
Burberry is a British luxury brand headquartered in London, UK.
Founded in 1856, Burberry is listed on the London Stock Exchange (BRBY.L) and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index.
BURBERRY, the Equestrian Knight Design, the Burberry Check and the Thomas Burberry Monogram and Print are all trademarks belonging to Burberry.
The Burberry Foundation was set up in 2008 by Burberry Group plc as an independent charity for general charitable purposes and grant-making. The Foundation Board comprises two Burberry representatives and an independent trustee. The Board meets four times a year and is responsible for upholding the Foundation’s vision and ensuring delivery of its charitable purpose.
Introduced in 2022, its new global strategic mission focuses on empowering disadvantaged youth and expanding The Burberry Foundation’s activities to include Burberry’s key operational geographies. Its flagship youth empowerment programme, Burberry Inspire, seeks to enable young people to unlock their creativity and drive positive change in their communities.
