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!”

Artwords - 20-22 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ

MagCulture - 270 St John St, London EC1V 4PE

Craving - 39B Markfield Rd, London N15 4QA

Blighty Cafe Tottenham - 266 Tottenham High Road, London N15 4AJ

The Larder at WW - 2 Forest Road, N17 9NH London, UK.

Marcus Garvey Library - 1 Philip Lane, Tottenham, N15 4JA

Tottenham Community Sports Centre - 701-703 High Rd, London N17 8AD

Haringey Council - River Park House, 225 High Rd

Muswell Hill Library - Queens Ave, Muswell Hill, London N10 3PE

Markfield Park Cafe - Markfield Rd, London N15 4RB

Lakeside Cafe - Alexandra Palace Way, London N22 7AY

Hornsey Central Neighbourhood Health Centre - 151 Park Road London; N8 8JD

Collage Artspace 2 - 4 Coburg Road Wood Green London N22 6UJ

Haringey Children’s Centres - Rowland Hill, 315 White Hart Lane N17 7LT

Bruce Grove Youth Space - 10 Bruce Grove Tottenham N17 6RA

Broadwater Farm Community Centre - Adams Road, Freedom Rd, London N17 6HE

Allpress Cafe - 55 Dalston Ln, London E8 2NG

Artwords Bookshop on Broadway Market - 6 Broadway Market, London E8 4QJ

Brunswick East - 3D, STAMFORD WORKS, Gillett St, London N16 8JH

Camden News - 227 Camden High St, London NW1 7BU

Carhartt WIP Coffee Shop - Unit 3, 2 Pancras Sq, London N1C 4AG

Charlotte St News - 66 Charlotte St., London W1T 4QE

The Clerkenwell Kitchen - 27, 31 Clerkenwell Close, London EC1R 0AT

Climpson & Sons - 67 Broadway Market, London E8 4PH

Conservatory Archives - 493-495 Hackney Rd, Cambridge Heath, London E2 9ED

De Beauvoir Deli - 98 Southgate Rd, London N1 3JD

Design Museum - 224-238 Kensington High St, London W8 6AG

Dulwich Picture Gallery - Gallery Rd, London SE21 7AD

East Dulwich Picturehouse Cafe - 116a Lordship Ln, London SE22 8HD

E5 Bakehouse - 396 Mentmore Terrace, London E8 3PH

Earl of East - 87 Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ

Foyles at Royal Festival Hall - Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX

Frith Street Gallery - 60 Soho Square, Frith St, London W1D 3JJ

Good News - 23 Berwick St, London W1F 8RB

Google Campus - 4-5 Bonhill St, London EC2A 4BX

Groucho Club - 45 Dean St, London W1D 4QB

Hackney Picturehouse Cafe - 270 Mare St, London E8 1HE

Jones of Brockley - 354 Brockley Rd, London SE4 2BY

Nikki Tibbles at Liberty - Regent St., Carnaby, London W1B 5AH

Mayhew Newsagents - 15 Motcomb St, London SW1X 8LB

Momosan Shop - 79a Wilton Way, London E8 1BG

Natural History Museum - Cromwell Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 5BD

Peckham Levels - 95A Rye Ln, London SE15 4ST

The Photographers’ Gallery - 16-18 Ramillies St, London W1F 7LW

Princess News - 31 Princess Rd, London NW1 8JR

The Print House Gallery - 18 Ashwin St, London E8 3DL

Royal Academy of Arts bookshop - Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BD

Rainbow News - 63 Golborne Rd, London W10 5NR

Rococo News - 12 Elgin Cres, London W11 2HX

Rough Trade East - Old Truman Brewery 91, Brick Ln, London E1 6QL

Rough Trade West - Old Truman Brewery 91, Brick Ln, London E1 6QL

Sadie Coles HQ - 1 Davies St, London W1K 3DB

Sea Containers London - 20 Upper Ground, London SE1 9PD

Shapero Rare Books - 106 New Bond St, London W1S 1DN

Shreeji Newsagents - 6 Chiltern St, London W1U 7PT

Simon Lee Gallery - 12 Berkeley St, London W1J 8DT

Somerset House - Strand, London WC2R 1LA

South London Gallery - 65 Peckham Rd, London SE5 8UH

Tate Member’s Room - Bankside, London SE1 9TG

Tate Modern (Terrace Shop) 25 Summer Street RM8 1RX

The Deli Downstairs 211 Victoria Park Rd, London E9 7JN

The Roundhouse Farm Road, Camden NW1 8EH

The Watch House 92 Fetter Lane EC4A 1EP

The Watch House 199 Bermondsey St, Bermondsey, SE1 3UW

Waterstones Kings Rd 152 King's Road Kensington, SW3 3NR

Waterstones Notting Hill Gate 39 / 41 Notting Hill Gate W11 3JQ

We Love Print Spitalfields Market

White Cube 144 – 152 Bermondsey St SE1 3TQ

Whitechapel Gallery 77-82 Whitechapel High St, E1 7QX

Wilton Way Cafe 63 Wilton Way E8 1BG

You Must Create 11 Poland St, Soho, W1F 8QA

Ziba News 97 Notting Hill Gate W11 3JZ

Manchester

Unitom 1a Stevenson Square, Manchester M1 1DN

Flok 5 Stevenson Square, M1 1DN

Form - Lifestyle Store 6 Bradley St, M1 1DN

Piccadilly Records 53 Oldham St, Manchester, M1 1JR

Moose Coffee York House, 20 York St, Manchester, M2 2BB

Henry C 107 Manchester Rd, M21 9GA

Wolf at the Door 30-32, Thomas St, M4 1ER

Federal Cafe and Bar 9 Nicholas Croft, M4 1EY

Deadstock General Store 46 Edge St, Manchester, M4 1ER

The Northern Quarter Restaurant 108 High St, Manchester, M4 1HQ

Just Between Friends 56 Tib St, M4 1LG

Ancoats General Store 57 Great Ancoats Street, M4 5AB

Kettlebell Kitchen 67 Great Ancoats St, M4 5AB

Ancoats Coffee Co. Royal Mill, 9, 17 Redhill St, M4 5BA

Rudy’s Pizza 9 Cotton St, M4 5BF

Mackie Mayor 1 Eagle St, M4 5BU

Jane Blease, Manchester Craft and Design Centre 17 Oak St, Manchester, M4 5JD

Pollen Bakery Cotton Field Wharf, 8 New Union St, M4 6FQ

Lupo Caffè Italiano Boat Shed, 2.05, 16 Exchange Quay, Salford, M5 3EQ

Coffee Fix 80 Church Rd, Gatley, Cheadle, SK8 4NQ

Wilson’s Social Oldham St, M4 1LE

Yard and Coop Edge St, M4 1HW

Waterside Coffee Red Hill St, M4 5BA

Foundation Coffee House Whitworth St, M1 6LS

The Crafty Pig Oldham St, M1 1JQ

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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