#FundtheirFuture - C19 Appeal

COVID 19 is disrupting the futures of young people across the UK. Brixton Finishing School needs your support to safeguard their futures and protect diversity and inclusion in Adland. 

We are launching an emergency crowdfunder for Brixton Finishing School to tackle this challenge and fund their futures - can you support us? 

We are asking for donations of ￡50 - ￡2500 to fund a nationwide, virtual school that will keep the doors of adland “propped open” for ‘diverse’ talent until open roles reappear. 

Virtual BFS will be free (of course) to 14-25-year-olds and: 

a) Protect the diverse talent pipeline for our industry, so our talent is primed for when opportunities open up again

b) Protect the futures of young people across the UK. The work experience, placements, internships, and entry-level roles so many were working hard towards are evaporating. Their chance to raise their expectations, fulfill their potential and achieve economic success is under threat. 

The School will open in June and run to September (and hopefully beyond). We urgently need funds to support them and donations of online courses and time to upskill them.

Groups that have traditionally faced challenges 'breaking into' careers are likely to be disproportionately affected in this crisis. We need to create positive pathways for those affected by the crisis, a chance to upskill and open new doors. They need a structure to help them win in the future and give them hope. These groups include those of multicultural, working-class and neurodiverse backgrounds. 

We are facing a huge shortfall in funding and need your financial support to make this a reality - please can you ensure potential isn't wasted? We do SO MUCH with so little - this really is a chance to make a difference to a young person's outcomes.

We are partnering with Speaker4Schools nationwide to virtually replace lost work experience programs/placements with this course for interested 14-18-year-olds, opening up our 'secret' world of advertising to a much wider audience and introducing the concept of this as a career at a younger age.

We will be virtually working with 18-25-year-olds from multicultural, white working-class and neurodiverse backgrounds to accelerate their skills, network and employment potential. This will ensure our industry continues the transformation to be more diverse and inclusive (as it’s nationwide we will hopefully get some more northern and regional voices into the business too). 

Pre COVID our program had a 95% graduate employment rate. Things are now tough and roles aren't open - but we are best placed to prepare as many as we can to be in prime position to win once opportunities open up again.

It will include weekly webinars with industry experts, professional skills workshops, live Q&As, virtual group project work on real briefs and remote mentoring. We envisage it being ongoing and growing in terms of its breadth of coverage.

It's a huge opportunity to open Adland's doors to ALL at a time when the hope of a better future is key.

Can you donate funds, time or online courses/masterclasses?

We will then look to resume the 'physical' course in Jan - April 2021 (when we hope the market's uptick). 

I realise you must be manically busy but would also very much appreciate you also sharing our crowdfunding link with all those you know! 

Best 

The team at BFS