MISSION
The mission of the Burberry Foundation is to help young people realise their dreams and potential through the power of their creativity. The Burberry Foundation is committed to dedicating its global resources to help young people build confidence, make connections in their communities, and grasp opportunities to succeed. The aim of the Foundation is to empower young people to use their intellectual creativity — that which will help them to imagine and achieve their life goals.
VISION
The Burberry brand is anchored in the integrity of its outerwear, a tradition that began when Thomas Burberry invented gabardine and continued by Burberry making the coats that would keep Ernest Shackleton, among other adventurers, warm and dry regardless of the extremity of their conquests. Since the beginning of the 20th century, aviators, cartographers, and mountain climbers alike have worn Burberry to expand the boundaries of human experience.
The Burberry Foundation recognises that while the nature of exploration has changed, the horizons today’s young people seek to conquer are no less daunting than the South Pole was a century ago. The twenty-first century requires new skills among young people who are looking to become successful adults in today’s multicultural, diverse global community. They must be educated well beyond their primary school years; they must be skilled in language and relationships and be technologically and culturally fluent; and they must navigate difficult decisions and locate trustworthy mentors to open doors to professional careers and meaningful lives.
Just as Burberry has clothed and encouraged the adventurers of the past, the Burberry Foundation will support the creative spirit and the ambition of the young people of today by helping them to navigate the uncertain terrain of their age and of the complex world in which we live.
GOALS
The Burberry Foundation serves young people by helping them to:
- gain confidence in their daily lives and develop self-esteem;
- build connections to their families, friends, partners, and society at large; and
- develop the ability to reach for opportunities in school, work, and life.
Confidence, connection, and opportunity are critical components of a young person’s life. Confidence supports an individual from the inside; connection to community provides nurturing and support from the outside; and opportunities make possible the way forward in work, love, and life. By supporting young people in these three critical components, the Burberry Foundation aims to kindle their creative spirit, which we believe is innate in everyone and which empowers young people to envision their futures and go after their dreams.
While creativity may find its purest expression through the arts, it is an essential facilitator of human relationships and individual success. Creativity permits us to solve problems, to communicate effectively, and to empathize with others. It helps us to imagine our desires and express our experience.
A young person who has the confidence of his or her creative spirit is a young person for whom the horizon is wide open.
HOW WE WORK
The Burberry Foundation invests in select charities focused on supporting young people in the key cities in the regions where the majority of Burberry employees live and work. In addition, we support one global charity programme. Burberry staff are encouraged to participate in volunteer roles with our charity partners on the ground, and we donate merchandise where and when appropriate.
Elements of the Burberry Foundation
- Grantmaking in key cities and globally
- Employee involvement with designated charities
- Merchandise donations as charity auction and prize items and to select charitable entities.
Because of our long-term commitment to multi-year investments with charity partners, the Burberry Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for support. However, we are always interested to hear about innovative programmes that empower the creative spirit in young people.
If you would like to send us information about your charity’s work, please contact the Burberry Foundation at:
Burberry Ltd
Horseferry House
Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2AW