As the country prepares to come together to enjoy the excitement of the World Cup (11 June to 19 July 2026), Manchester Libraries and Withington Walls are encouraging schools to explore a new digital resource.
Inspired by the Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope, it uses football to kick off discussions about community, racism, and standing up for what matters.
The Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope is a FREE digital educational resource designed for Key Stages 2 and 3 (ages 7 to 14) that is also suitable for community settings as well as families at home.
The online resource features films, oral histories, activities, interactive experiences, and a curated selection of messages of support from the community. It gives teachers a meaningful way to connect values of empathy, community action, inclusion and positive change through a story that will resonate strongly.
With the World Cup on the horizon, it presents a timely opportunity for young people to be inspired by the actions of players and communities alike, both on and off the pitch.
The resource reflects the community’s response to a moment of division and hate that happened during the 2020 UEFA Euros.
Messages of love and solidarity overcame the racism that was directed to Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka during the final, as well as the vandalism of the Marcus Rashford mural in Withington.
The wave of support that followed, with thousands of handwritten messages of love covering the mural, transformed it into a symbol of unity and hope that carried its spirit around the world.
The Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope and its story are the basis for activities that explore community, emotions, and reactions, including how to take action if you see or experience racism – ensuring that this important moment of shared cultural history continues to have a positive legacy.
The build-up to the World Cup provides the perfect catalyst for these conversations, helping young people to learn about the power of community and the importance of standing up for what you believe in.
The project is introduced online by journalist, author and broadcaster Carl Anka, who co-wrote the best-selling book You Are A Champion with Marcus Rashford.
Carl says, “The events surrounding the Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope in summer 2021 serve as a good example of the importance of community and the enduring power of hope. In a challenging time for the nation, young people got together to help someone going through a difficult moment. The messages left in support of Rashford were a reminder of how kindness can overcome division and racially charged rhetoric.”
“This resource explores what it means to be a role model, on large and small scales. It looks to encourage discussion on the importance of community and positive action. The team at Manchester Library have been superb in creating a resource for conversations on how football and community can help shape us all for the better, topics which can feel especially relevant in a World Cup year.”
The resource features a curated selection of 100 of the messages of support created by the community. The full Marcus Rashford Mural Tributes archive, and its thousands of messages is held at Manchester Central Library, ensuring that this united community response is preserved and can continue to inspire future generations.
The mural of Marcus Rashford is located in Withington where he lived as a child. Commissioned in 2020 by Withington Walls, following a successful crowdfunding campaign, to celebrate his work tackling child food poverty, it was created by artist AkseP19 and is based on a photograph by Daniel Cheetham.
The Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope: An Educational Resource was created by MBD in partnership with Manchester Libraries and Withington Walls. The project is part of the Digital Spaces programme, supported by The Space in association with Arts Council England.
