As parents, it can sometimes feel overwhelming trying to guide our children through a world full of influencers, celebrities and online personalities who don’t always set the best example. So when someone in the public eye consistently shows kindness, humility and genuine care for other people, it stands out.
That’s exactly why Marcus Rashford has become such an inspirational figure for so many families across the UK.
Of course, most people know him as a talented football player for Manchester United and England’s national team, but for many parents, his greatest achievement has happened far away from the football pitch. During the pandemic, Marcus Rashford used his platform to fight child poverty and challenge injustice in a way that inspired millions of people around the country.
For me, that is exactly the sort of behaviour and humility we should want our children to admire.
In this article, I want to look at why Marcus Rashford has become one of the best role models for young people, what parents can learn from his activism, and why his story matters far beyond football.
More Than Just a Footballer
Children naturally look up to successful athletes, musicians and celebrities. But not all fame is equal.
What makes Marcus Rashford different is that he has never forgotten his background. Raised in Wythenshawe, Manchester, in a working-class family, Rashford has spoken openly about experiencing food insecurity as a child and relying on free school meals and support from food banks.
His honesty about growing up in poverty has helped remove some of the stigma that many low-income families face. Instead of pretending success came easily, he has shown young people that resilience, hard work and kindness matter just as much as talent.
As parents, that feels refreshing.
Rather than promoting privilege or materialism, the life of Rashford demonstrates that success can sit alongside compassion and humility.
Why His Free School Meals Campaign Mattered So Much
The moment many families truly connected with Marcus Rashford came during Covid in 2020 and 2021.
While the pandemic affected everyone, it hit underprivileged families especially hard. Many parents were suddenly struggling to cope financially during school holidays, and thousands of children risked going hungry without access to free school meals.
Rashford, remembering his own childhood experiences, launched a petition urging the UK government to continue providing food voucher support during the holidays.
His campaign worked.
The government eventually extended the voucher scheme, helping countless low-income families access lunch support for their children. Reports from BBC News and GOV.UK covered the intervention and its impact during Covid.
For many parents, it was emotional to watch a young footballer challenge societal injustice with such maturity and empathy.
He wasn’t doing it for publicity. He was doing it because he understood child hunger personally.
That matters.
Teaching Our Children About Kindness and Social Responsibility
One of the things I admire most about Marcus Rashford is that he reminds children — and adults — that kindness is not weakness.
In a world where social media can sometimes reward arrogance, judgement and attention-seeking behaviour, Rashford consistently models calmness, humility and compassion.
There are so many lessons our children can learn from him:
- Success should never stop you caring about others
- You can speak up against injustice respectfully
- Your background does not define your future
- Helping homeless people and struggling families matters
- Resilience often grows through difficult experiences
- Using your voice positively can help young people aspire to more
As parents, we spend years trying to encourage good behaviour, empathy and emotional wellbeing in our children. Seeing those same values reflected in public figures can reinforce those messages powerfully.
Marcus Rashford and Literacy: Why His Book Club Matters
Another reason Marcus Rashford has become such an inspirational role model is his commitment to literacy.
In 2021, he launched the Marcus Rashford Book Club to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access free books and develop a love of reading.
For families struggling financially, books can sometimes feel like an unaffordable luxury. The book club aims to help children discover stories they connect with while improving confidence and learning opportunities.
As a parent, I love this focus because reading opens doors in so many ways.
It builds:
- confidence
- communication skills
- imagination
- emotional understanding
- educational opportunities
The Marcus Rashford book club also helps challenge the socio-economic disadvantage that can affect literacy rates across the UK.
And importantly, it sends a message to children that learning matters just as much as sporting success.
He Shows That Masculinity Can Be Positive
This is something I think many parents are thinking about more and more lately.
Young boys especially are constantly exposed to online personalities who often promote unhealthy ideas about masculinity, wealth and relationships. Some encourage judgement, selfishness or aggressive behaviour instead of empathy.
Marcus Rashford offers a completely different model.
He shows boys that being successful does not mean you have to lose your kindness.
He speaks respectfully. He listens. He works hard. He supports charity initiatives like FareShare. He advocates for children facing child food poverty and homelessness. He handles criticism with far more maturity than many adults online.
That kind of positive masculinity is something many families are desperate for young boys to see.
The Importance of Real Role Models for Young People
Children do not need perfect role models.
They need human ones.
People who make mistakes, face criticism, overcome challenges and still try to do good.
Marcus Rashford has faced plenty of public scrutiny throughout his football career. Like many premier league players, he has been criticised for performances on the pitch at times. But what stands out is how he continues focusing on helping others despite that pressure.
That teaches children something important:
You can still choose kindness even when life feels difficult.
As parents, I think we sometimes underestimate how closely children watch the adults and public figures around them. The role models they follow shape their attitudes towards success, compassion, social responsibility and self-worth.
How Parents Can Use Marcus Rashford’s Story at Home
You do not have to be football-mad to use Marcus Rashford’s story as a conversation starter.
Some simple ways to introduce these lessons include:
Talk About Gratitude
Discuss why some families may need support with food vouchers or food banks and encourage empathy rather than judgement.
Encourage Giving Back
Whether it’s donating to charity, helping neighbours or supporting community projects, children learn kindness through action.
Discuss Online Influences
Ask your children who they admire and why. It can open really important conversations about values and behaviour.
Celebrate Effort and Resilience
Rashford’s success did not happen overnight. His story is a reminder that achievement often comes through consistency and hard work.
Read Together
Explore the Marcus Rashford book club selections and encourage reading as part of family life.
Why Parents Relate to Marcus Rashford
I think many parents connect with Marcus Rashford because he understands struggle in a very real way.
He understands what it feels like when families are trying to stretch £20 to cover meals. He understands the stress many parents felt during the pandemic. He understands how child hunger and poverty affect wellbeing, confidence and opportunity.
That authenticity is rare.
And perhaps that is why his activism resonated so deeply across the UK in 2021 and beyond.
He did not simply talk about problems. He tried to create change.
FAQs About Marcus Rashford
Who is Marcus Rashford?
Marcus Rashford is an English footballer who plays for Manchester United and England. He is also widely known for campaigning against child poverty and supporting free school meals for vulnerable children.
Why is Marcus Rashford considered a good role model?
Many parents see Marcus Rashford as a positive role model because of his kindness, humility, resilience and activism supporting young people and low-income families.
What did Marcus Rashford do for free school meals?
During Covid, Marcus Rashford campaigned for the UK government to continue providing food voucher support during school holidays for children eligible for free school meals.
What is the Marcus Rashford Book Club?
The Marcus Rashford Book Club is a literacy programme designed to help children access books and improve reading opportunities, particularly for underprivileged young people.
What challenges did Marcus Rashford face growing up?
Marcus Rashford grew up in a working-class family in Wythenshawe, Manchester, and has spoken openly about experiencing poverty and relying on free school meals as a child.
Why are positive role models important for children?
Positive role models help children develop empathy, confidence, resilience and healthy attitudes towards success, relationships and society.
Final Thoughts
In a world where so many public figures chase attention for the wrong reasons, Marcus Rashford feels like a reminder that genuine kindness still matters.
Yes, he is an incredibly talented footballer. But for many families, his greatest legacy may be the way he used his success to help others.
As parents, we cannot completely control the influences our children see online or in the media. But we can highlight people whose behaviour reflects the values we hope to teach at home.
And for me, Marcus Rashford is exactly the kind of role model our children need.