The Burberry Foundation welcomed more than seventy young people from OnSide’s London Youth Zones to Burberry’s global headquarters for its third annual Burberry Inspire Showcase, marking the culmination of a year of creativity, collaboration and achievement through the Burberry Inspire programme.
The annual event reflects the Foundation's commitment to helping young people build confidence, develop new skills and realise their potential through meaningful creative experiences.
Since launching in 2023, Burberry Inspire has helped support more than 125,000 young people across the UK through its partnership with OnSide, supported by the dedication of nearly 250 volunteers. The annual showcase is a key moment in the programme, with almost 200 young people taking part to share experiences, learn from one another, and celebrate the work they have developed through their Youth Zones.
Throughout the day, young people took part in a series of interactive experiences led and supported by over 50 Burberry volunteers, including merchandising and retail workshops and a behind-the-scenes showroom tour. The sessions created opportunities for Burberry colleagues to share their expertise and support young people directly, while providing insight into a range of career pathways in luxury fashion.
“It is inspiring to see the strength of our partnership with OnSide and the difference it continues to make in the lives of young people. From the workshops to the final showcase, the day was filled with moments of real joy that demonstrated the talent, creativity and determination of the young people taking part. When they stepped onto the stage and shared what they had achieved with such confidence, the whole experience was both uplifting and memorable, and a reminder of the importance of creating spaces where young people can grow, connect and express themselves.”
“The Burberry Inspire Showcase is a highlight of the year, celebrating the creativity, confidence and achievements of young people. Beyond the performances, the day gives them the chance to explore new opportunities, develop skills and broaden their horizons. We're incredibly grateful to everyone at Burberry for their continued commitment to the partnership and for creating such an inspiring experience.”
The event culminated in a talent showcase, where young people presented creative projects and performances developed within their Youth Zones – ranging from product design to dance, film, and musical performances. Bringing together young people from communities across London, the showcase provided an opportunity to share their work with Burberry colleagues, celebrate achievements and connect through creativity, while building confidence and encouraging self-expression.
Learn more about Burberry Inspire here.
Based in London, United Kingdom, The Burberry Foundation is an independent charity (UK registered charity number 1154468) and was established by Burberry Group plc in 2008 as a grant making charity with general charitable purposes. Whilst primarily funded by Burberry Group plc, the Burberry Foundation operates in full independence from Burberry Group plc and its commercial interests.
The Burberry Foundation is committed to improving the lives of young people across the globe. By working with a network of global youth associations, The Burberry Foundation provides opportunities for young people to explore their creativity, build confidence and life skills, and shape a more positive future for themselves and their communities.
The Burberry Foundation’s work is guided by the principles of the Creative Youth Development Partnership’s framework and aims to showcase the importance of creativity to both the development of young people, and to driving wider social impact.
OnSide is a national charity that believes all young people should have the opportunity to discover their passion and their purpose.
To find out what they’ve got and where it could take them. We fund and build state-of-the-art, multimillion-pound Youth Zones in the country’s most economically disadvantaged areas.
We train the amazing people that run them. We offer continuing support – and the nationwide OnSide Network where they can learn and grow, share their stories and celebrate their success together.
These are brand new, 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, DJ-ing, drama and employability training with entry costing just 50p along with a £5 annual 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 across the OnSide network at our 16 open Youth Zones in:
There are six new Youth Zones currently at different stages of development including Barnsley, Crewe, Preston, Grimsby, South Bristol and Thurrock.
Each Youth Zone is an independent charity with its own private sector-led board. 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 age of 8 and 19 (25 for those with additional needs). Visit www.onsideyouthzones.org for more details.
