Metallica to help 1,000 London college students

The heavy metal band Metallica has chosen to financially support 1,000 disadvantaged college students from London to help boost their education and chances of employment.

The band launched the Metallica Scholars Initiative in 2019, and said it had since given out more than $16.5m in grants, supporting approximately 15,000 students across the United States.

Capital City College (CCC) which has several campuses across the capital will receive £186,000 to support students with everything from travel costs to short courses.

Lars Ulrich, the drummer for Metallica, said it was about giving back to the "incredibly passionate" communities the band had met in 45 years of touring the world.

He said: "We've focused our charitable efforts on helping people in the communities we visit by giving back locally through food banks and shelters, and by sponsoring blood drives.

"Given the universal need for skilled tradespeople, the logical next step is to expand our workforce education initiatives internationally, starting with bringing our Metallica Scholars Initiative to London.

"This is only the beginning - as we like to say, we're just getting started."

The band set up a charitable foundation nearly a decade ago, called All Within My Hands.

Starting this September, the programme will support over 1,000 young Londoners studying vocational courses at CCC.

The Metallica Scholars will gain skills needed to begin careers across a range of industries, including construction, engineering, healthcare, digital technologies, and hospitality.

It comes as new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed the youth unemployment rate in London was now higher than anywhere else in the UK, with 23.1% of 16 to 24-year-olds out of work in the capital.

Sarah Victor, who is 18 and studying health and social care at CCC said she was currently trying to study using £15 a week, provided by a bursary. However, most of this was going on travel expenses.

"It's really frustrating, because I really want to do the best I can, but then if I don't have the right funds, then I actually can't do the best that I want to do."

Kysharn Queensborough, is 17 and studying a professional culinary course at CCC. He said just travelling from Northwood to the college in Angel was an expense he was struggling with.

"It is annoying knowing that you can do better or better than others but you just can't afford to get by really," he said.

The student said he was "grateful for the opportunity" provided by the Metallica funding.

Angela Joyce, the chief executive officer at Capital City College, said the funding from Metallica was a "huge opportunity" for under-served communities in London, and said it would help address the growing demand for skilled workers across major sectors.

Metallica is not the only band to carry out philanthropic work alongside their touring.

Singer Beyoncé also started giving donations through her own organisation 'BeyGOOD' in 2013. The foundation donates to initiatives and fundraisers all over the world.

Taylor Swift reportedly gave "substantial donations" to food banks at many of the locations around the UK during her Eras tour in 2024.

More recently, Harry Styles donated £1 from every ticket sold on his UK stadium tour this year to struggling grassroots music venues.

Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Metallica donates £20,000 to city foodbank with 'empty shelves' after sell-out gig