Marcus Rashford is galvanising London’s youth

In partnership with Burberry

With a little help from Burberry, The National Literacy Trust, THE FACE and artist Tegen Williams, the pupils of a North London Primary School have unleashed their imaginations to produce a one-of-a-kind zine and a mural on Tottenham High Road. Take a look at the results.

Words: Harald Smart Photography: Tom Ivin

There’s nothing like a good book to stimulate the imagination. One person who believes this passionately is England football star Marcus Rashford, who managed to find time during last summer’s oh-so-close World Cup tournament to launch an impressive educational initiative.

The Marcus Rashford Book Club is the 24-year-old’s pledge of support to young readers across the country, and it has already transformed the libraries of ten under-funded schools across London, Liverpool and Manchester. To highlight the Book Club’s successes to date, and to create a lasting record of its impact, THE FACE has teamed up with Burberry – for whom Rashford is an ambassador – and multidisciplinary artist Tegen Williams, to produce a limited edition zine and a mural that unifies Tottenham’s community.

Entitled Dreamscapes, the pages of the A2 zine-cum-poster-book are bursting with the colourful imaginings of pupils at a primary school in North London, who have benefited directly from Rashford’s scheme in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. During a workshop delivered by Williams, children from Years 3 and 6 were encouraged to let their imaginations run wild as they shared their big hopes and even bigger aspirations for the future. “I wanted to take the pressure off,” Williams tells THE FACE, “so I made sure to tell them that they could depict absolutely anything they wanted. They got really into it!”

Portraiture and digital illustration bring these fantasies into vivid and often amusing reality. In one, Nathan from Year 6 imagines himself as a shapeshifter, able to transform into animals with superpowers, whilst another shows Year 3’s Muna as a doctor whose surgery doubles as a well-stocked sweet shop. Sign us up, Muna.

“We need these solid spaces for communities to come together and feel a sense of collective spirit. I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved.” - TEGEN WILLIAMS

“Going into this project, I wanted it to be something these kids would really remember for a long time to come,” says Williams. The accompanying mural, comprised of bright collaged drawings by the children, was arranged by Williams digitally and then painstakingly painted. “I never expected that we’d get to occupy a space like this,’ she continues, “the team did such an amazing job!”

So, if you’re passing by Tottenham High Road, keep your eyes peeled for Burberry’s site of beauty… “We need these solid spaces for communities to come together and feel a sense of collective spirit,” Williams concludes, “I’m really proud of what we’ve achieved.”

illustration of a fish illuatration of smiley face
illustration of a dog illustration of a crocodile

As the kids of one particular North London primary school have proven, they all have mega hopes and dreams for the future – whether that’s becoming a pirate, a ballerina, a doctor or a world-famous drummer.

Making them happen is another story. Cue: two international superstars who have made their wildest fantasies a reality, beauty expert and celebrity makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, and THE FACE cover-star-slash-singer-songwriter, Jorja Smith. With both at the top of their field, students from Year 3 and Year 6 grabbed the mic to ask the pair some burning questions. Listen to their insightful – and sometimes humorous – exchanges below.

Q&A

Jorja Smith

Listen now: An interview with Jorja Smith

What is your dream?

What is my dream? I’m constantly dreaming, I’m in a bit of a dream because I get to play my music all over the world and I have all of these fans who love what I’m doing and I love them so much, every single one of them.

Do you have anybody that says that you can’t sing, but you keep on going and going and going?

That’s funny! I’ve got lots of people that say I can’t sing. You’ve just got to look at the majority… fans who love you and the people who care about you, rather than the people who say I can’t. I don’t listen to them. They obviously just need to change the song, that’s what I think.

Q&A

Isamaya Ffrench

Listen now: An interview with Isamaya Ffrench

I draw a lot in my notebooks and I colour a lot. I just wanted to ask you, what does it take to be a professional artist?

“It takes a lot of persistence and determination and also just to be passionate about what you do. I think if you love art and it’s really important that you, just follow your dreams. It’s so important that whatever you love doing is your job so that your life is fulfilling”

What is Rihanna like in person? Because I really want to meet her and get her autograph!

“She is as gorgeous as you expect her to be. She’s lovely and she really loves the whole creative process. She loves the makeup, she loves having her hair done and then she really comes to life on camera. Everything you would expect. She’s even better in real life!”

In association with

Marcus Rashford Book Club

The National Literacy Trust

Macmillan Books

Holmleigh Primary School

Burberry

Creative Director Riccardo Tisci

Chief Marketing Officer Rod Manley

Creative Lead Ruby Wight, Hyo-Jae Ann & Imaan Riaz

The Face Internal Team

Brand Director Jason Gonsalves

Managing Partner - Wasted Talent Studios Lydia Dewdney-Pala

Head of Production Rosanna Gouldman

Head of Project Management Rachael Bigelow

Associate Creative Director Clara Goodger

Art Director Arun Gogna

Digital Director Brooke McCord

Branded Content Editor India van Spall

Video Editor Millie Gray

Digital Designer Georgia-Mae Skelding

Creative Strategist Leo Robins

The Face Project Team

Artist & Photographer Tegen Williams

Project Director Lucy Uren

Producer Becs Rainey

Producer Adam Lilley

Art Director Alfie Allen

Graphic Designer Joel Wilson

Social Content Director Tom Ivin

Sound Recordist Ollie Drummond

Editor Callum Pearson

Workshop

Workshop Facilitator Heta Fell

Workshop Artist Jebet Mengech

Shoot

Photographer Tegen Williams

Photo Assistant Arthur Williams

Digital Operator Arthur Comely

Stylist Danielle Emerson

Styling Assistant Hollie Williamson

Production Assistant Shabnam Nimi

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