Keep Emily-Jane at drama school
Donation protected
Hello, I’m Emily-Jane, I’m a Durham girl from a working class family. I have completed my first year at my dream drama school but because it is registered in Scotland as it is based in Edinburgh, their license for being able to process funds through student finance England is still not through and they are not sure when this will happen (I was previously unaware of this until accepting my place). I am unable to access a student loan for my tuition fees or accommodation. I managed to scrape together the money for this year through kind donations and my parents going into debt which I am helping them pay back with wages from my part time job. I have researched grants within the arts and these are few and far between and are not able to provide as much as I’d hope. I’m looking for sponsorships/donations/grants and if anyone knows any amazing people who’d be willing to sponsor me then please do get in touch. It would break my heart to not be able to complete my course. My parents are incredible in every sense of the word and couldn’t be more supportive but as a working class family, this is a massive financial pressure. So, I am unsure where to turn, which is why I am looking for sponsorships and grants. I LOVE drama school - the training I’m getting is incredible and in my first year I can already tell I’ve developed so much as a actress.
Let me tell you my story… Performing has been a huge passion of mine for as long as I can recall; I frequently sang Annie and at break times at nursery and primary school, I could be found skipping and singing or acting out my own scenes. My penchant grew with me, leading me to study GCSE drama and Music at Secondary school and star in any show I could – if there was a stage, I was there (and that’s never changed). I am from a working-class background, so from the age of twelve, my birthday and Christmas money was spent on attending the Pauline Quirke Academy every Saturday where I relished the opportunity to perform on the West End twice. Any spare money I had was spent on singing lessons and as I grew older, any available workshops with industry professionals through being an Associate of West End star Mike Denman. I always knew deep down that performing was my calling and where I truly shone and excelled; I had to make it my career.
After school, I went to college where I studied for a level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Acting and attained Triple Distinction* (the highest possible grade). I was so strong-willed that I went against the advice of teachers who suggested A levels were a good fit for me. I knew where my passion and natural talents were and I have always followed both my instincts and my heart. I then went on to study for an FnD degree (two years of training) in Musical Theatre at a university from which I have recently graduated. Whilst I have grown and developed on this course, the pandemic hindered my training. I truly felt that my next step is to study for my BA (Hons) in Acting at drama school as strongly believe this is a more suited environment for me to hone my craft.
This brings you up to date with where I am at present having almost completed my first year. I have always been a hard worker and have worked tenaciously for my chance to shine. I firmly believe in kindness and know that there is a multitude of it in our world and our community; so I am urging you to please show me some kindness and help enable me to follow my dreams through sponsorship, grant, or donation. That curly-haired toddler who sang Annie and dreamt of opportunities such as this is still inside me (in fact, I can tell you my hair is still curly and I wouldn’t have it any other way). Just like us as human beings, our dreams are unique and individual. This is my dream and biggest aspiration and I can’t put into words how much this opportunity means to me; performing is my world and is what truly ignites my soul and lights me up inside, bringing me joy in a way nothing else can even come close. The thing that makes you feel like that, that’s the thing that you know you were born to do. So please help me to do the thing I know I was born to do.
Let me tell you my story… Performing has been a huge passion of mine for as long as I can recall; I frequently sang Annie and at break times at nursery and primary school, I could be found skipping and singing or acting out my own scenes. My penchant grew with me, leading me to study GCSE drama and Music at Secondary school and star in any show I could – if there was a stage, I was there (and that’s never changed). I am from a working-class background, so from the age of twelve, my birthday and Christmas money was spent on attending the Pauline Quirke Academy every Saturday where I relished the opportunity to perform on the West End twice. Any spare money I had was spent on singing lessons and as I grew older, any available workshops with industry professionals through being an Associate of West End star Mike Denman. I always knew deep down that performing was my calling and where I truly shone and excelled; I had to make it my career.
After school, I went to college where I studied for a level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma in Acting and attained Triple Distinction* (the highest possible grade). I was so strong-willed that I went against the advice of teachers who suggested A levels were a good fit for me. I knew where my passion and natural talents were and I have always followed both my instincts and my heart. I then went on to study for an FnD degree (two years of training) in Musical Theatre at a university from which I have recently graduated. Whilst I have grown and developed on this course, the pandemic hindered my training. I truly felt that my next step is to study for my BA (Hons) in Acting at drama school as strongly believe this is a more suited environment for me to hone my craft.
This brings you up to date with where I am at present having almost completed my first year. I have always been a hard worker and have worked tenaciously for my chance to shine. I firmly believe in kindness and know that there is a multitude of it in our world and our community; so I am urging you to please show me some kindness and help enable me to follow my dreams through sponsorship, grant, or donation. That curly-haired toddler who sang Annie and dreamt of opportunities such as this is still inside me (in fact, I can tell you my hair is still curly and I wouldn’t have it any other way). Just like us as human beings, our dreams are unique and individual. This is my dream and biggest aspiration and I can’t put into words how much this opportunity means to me; performing is my world and is what truly ignites my soul and lights me up inside, bringing me joy in a way nothing else can even come close. The thing that makes you feel like that, that’s the thing that you know you were born to do. So please help me to do the thing I know I was born to do.
Organizer
Emily-Jane Bainbridge
Organizer
Scotland