Toms links with Advocacy Academy to "empower changemakers"

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Oct 8, 2021

Ethical footwear and lifestyle goods producer/retailer Toms has partnered with The Advocacy Academy. The aim is to provide ‘impact grants’ to help the Brixton, London-based grassroots organisation empower young ‘advocates’ to campaign for changes they want to see in their local communities.

The partnership also marks the first European tie-up since the footwear brand announced its new impact strategy to give a third of profits to grassroots projects.

The impact grant will help support 122 graduates of The Advocacy Academy’s ‘Social Justice Fellowship Programme’. Specifically, the grant “facilitates the formalisation of the Fellowship campaigns so they can become self-sustaining through the establishment of financial mechanisms, the development of decision-making processes, and further mentorship and skillset development”.

Amy Smith, Chief Strategy and Impact Officer at Toms, said: “The past 15 years of giving have shown us that community leaders know best what is needed for their peers to thrive, and so we’re here to support their efforts. 

“We’re proud to work with The Advocacy Academy… that provides passionate young people from South London with the tools to develop their own campaigns, following their personal visions for a more equitable society”.

‘Doing good’ is a crucial element of many companies’ strategies these days and brands founded with an ethical profile are among those at the forefront of this trend.