Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope inspires new FREE digital educational resource ahead of World Cup

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. The initiative is inspired by the Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope. It uses football to kick off discussions about community, racism, and standing up for what matters.

A resource built on community and hope

Manchester Libraries and Withington Walls have designed the Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope as a FREE digital educational resource for Key Stages 2 and 3 (ages 7 to 14). It is suitable for community settings as well as families at home.

The online resource features films, oral histories, activities and interactive experiences. It also includes 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, young people can find timely inspiration in the actions of players and communities, both on and off the pitch.

The story behind the project

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. There was also acts of vandalism of the Marcus Rashford mural in Withington, Manchester. The wave of support that followed included thousands of handwritten messages of love covering the mural. It transformed the wall into a symbol of unity and hope that carried its spirit around the world.

Inspiring action for future generations

The Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope and its story are the basis for activities that explore community, emotions, and reactions. The resource explains how to take action if you see or experience racism. The build-up to the World Cup provides the perfect catalyst for these conversations. The goal is to help 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. Carl co-wrote the best-selling book “You Are A Champion” with Marcus Rashford.

Carl said:

“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 includes a curated selection of 100 supportive messages from the community. The full Marcus Rashford Mural Tributes archive contains thousands more messages, held at Manchester Central Library. This ensures the community’s 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. Withington Walls commissioned the project in 2020, following a successful crowdfunding campaign. The aim of the project was to celebrate his work tackling child food poverty. It was created by artist AkseP19 and is based on a photograph by Daniel Cheetham.

MBD created the Marcus Rashford Wall of Hope: An Educational Resource 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.

Anyone can access the free resource here: www.marcusrashfordmural.co.uk.

View the film about the project here.