Press.disney.co.uk
- New programme offers opportunity and mentorship to young people hoping to enter the fashion and design industries –
- Across a two-week programme, Disney designers will mentor the group through the process of creating a new line of Marvel products, which will go on sale on shopDisney.com in the UK and across Europe -
- Disney will make a £100,000 donation to The Prince’s Trust each year of the programme, enabling the organisation to help more young people reach their full potential -
London, 00.01AM, Wednesday 19 May: Today, Marvel announced a three-year partnership with youth charity The Prince’s Trust to offer a mentorship programme for young people aged 16-30, interested in taking their first steps in the fashion and product design industry.
Over two weeks, the Get Started in Product Design with Marvel course will provide a specially created programme of workshops, which will culminate in The Prince’s Trust participants designing two Marvel product collections, supported by Disney’s design team. The first collection will focus on Marvel’s The Avengers and the second, will celebrate incredible female superheroes from across the Marvel universe, such as Wanda Maximoff, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Shuri, Ms Marvel and Okoye.
The programme will help the participants gain entry experience in product design, with guidance and mentorship from Disney designers, marketeers and retail teams. The initiative aims to help under-represented young people get the best possible start in their career, supporting them with the development of their personal and technical skills.
Earlier this year, The Trust released its Youth Index survey, which interviewed over 2,000 16-25 year olds.* The study revealed that 60 per cent of young people believe securing a job is ‘impossible’ because of the rise in competition, and almost a quarter of respondents (24%) state that the pandemic has destroyed their career hopes. Over half of young people (55%) also revealed that the political and economic effects of Covid-19 have made their mental health deteriorate.
At the end of the programme, The Prince’s Trust participants will see their Marvel product collections go on sale online at shopDisney and at Disney Store in the UK and across Europe.
To support the three-year partnership, Disney is also making a commitment of a £100,000 donation to The Prince’s Trust each year of the programme.
Ben Marson, Director of Partnerships at The Prince’s Trust said: “It has been a difficult year for young people, with rising unemployment and disruption to training and education opportunities having a devastating impact on their lives. Now, more than ever, they need opportunities to upskill, reskill and build the confidence they need to move into work, education and training.
“That is why we are so pleased to be working alongside Marvel on this new programme, which we know will offer our young people the invaluable hands-on learning and experience they need to pave the way for a career in product design.”
Tasia Filippatos, Senior Vice President, Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing EMEA said: “The fashion and design industries can be hard to break into so we’re delighted to be partnering with The Prince’s Trust to give young people valuable experience in this space.
“Marvel characters and stories have inspired a host of incredible fashion and design collaborations from Adidas and Vans to Vetements and Coach, and we can’t wait to see what our talented group create.”
The first production collection (The Avengers) will drop online at shopDisney and at Disney Store in the UK and across Europe in winter 2021.
For any press enquiries please contact Alana.Irwin@disney.com
ENDS
Notes to Editors
About Prince’s Trust research
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2,180 16-25 year olds. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th November - 8th December 2020. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK 16-25 year olds.
About The Prince’s Trust
The Prince’s Trust helps young people all over the UK to build their confidence and skills and supports them into jobs, education and training. Founded by The Prince of Wales in 1976, the charity supports 11 to 30 year-olds who are unemployed, struggling at school and at risk of exclusion.
Many of the young people helped by The Trust are in or leaving care, facing issues such as homelessness, mental health problems, or have been in trouble with the law. The courses offered by The Trust give young people the practical and financial support needed to stabilise their lives, helping develop self-esteem and skills for work. Three in four young people supported by The Prince’s Trust move into work, education or training.
The Trust has helped over a million young people to date. Further information about The Prince’s Trust is available at princes-trust.org.uk or on 0800 842 842.
About Disney’s Social Responsibility
Providing inspiration and opportunity for those who want to influence their world, is one of The Walt Disney Company’s global commitments. Disney’s partnership with the Prince’s Trust is an example of how, through working with others, we can help build emotional resilience for children and young people, so they can reach their potential. If you would like more information on Disney’s social purpose, you can visit www.thewaltdisneycompany.eu
About Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing
Disney Consumer Products, Games and Publishing (CPGP) brings the magic of The Walt Disney Company’s brands and franchises—including Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, and more—into the daily lives of families and fans around the world through products and experiences across more than 100 retail categories from toys and t-shirts to apps, books, video games, and more. A division of the Disney Parks, Experiences and Products segment, CPGP’s global operations include: the world’s largest licensing business, one of the biggest children’s publishing brands, a leading licensor of interactive games across platforms, and the shopDisney e-commerce platform.
About Marvel
Marvel, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company, is one of the world's most prominent character-based entertainment companies, built on a proven library of more than 8,000 characters featured in a variety of media over eighty years. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in entertainment, licensing and publishing. For more information visit marvel.com. © 2021 MARVEL