Bursary place fundraiser for Lighthouse students in need

For the last five years I have been building a drama school Lighthouse School of Speech and Drama in Southeast London. We work with young people aged 3 – 18 from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities.

Most of our parents can afford to offer this enriching experience for their children. However, we are increasingly aware that there are a number of children who would benefit from the confidence and skills drama training brings but for whom the cost of classes is prohibitive.

Therefore, with my Co-Director Liz Chambers (LAMDA examiner), I am seeking to expand our bursary scheme for students which will enable Lighthouse to fulfil the need we are seeing for financially assisted places.

I am hoping I can find generous individuals who will support the bursary place scheme help a student to work towards LAMDA qualifications and of course give the students essential and transferable skills by developing teamwork, expression, communication, and most of all, self-confidence.

Our classes have a rigorous yet caring style that have a tangible impact on children: 70% and above in English GCSEs, an 80% distinction rate for LAMDA exams. To date, 16 of our students have won places at prestigious drama schools including BRIT School, the National Youth Theatre and RADA.

Previous bursary recipient Angelika was 12 when she moved to the UK from Ukraine with her mother and two siblings in March 2022. She initially found her new life tough as she learned to speak English and was bullied at school. However, she persevered and joined our LAMDA after school clubs where she enjoyed creating improvisations and worked towards her Grade 3 in acting.

Angelika’s mother told us, “The Lighthouse lessons are the highlight of her week. She has never done drama before, but it has helped so much with her confidence, she has made new friends and it helps her with her school work. Thank you.”

Another bursary recipient 15 year old Jamal lives with his 4 siblings and single mother who has been working two jobs after Jamal’s father died of COVID during the pandemic. Initially we taught Jamal 1-1 online with great success but the difficulties of Jamal’s grief and studying for his GCSEs in the pandemic became too much: Jamal experienced anxiety and depression, and refused to go to school. He did however continue LAMDA and English tuition with Lighthouse. Jamal’s mum says “Your teaching was the reason he returned to school and believes in himself again.”

If you can give whatever you can towards our bursary place scheme we would be so grateful, even the price of the cup of coffee - it all adds up and makes a huge difference.

We feel very strongly that no young person should be prevented from receiving these transformative lessons in literacy and the arts because of financial or social hardship. With your support we can offer a child a chance to access these experiences for a year and the opportunity to see their future in the arts.

Warmest wishes,

Jo Wilson

P.S. To find out more about who we are and what we do go to https://lighthousessdc.org/about/