Hello, I am Asher and I am super lucky to have landed a place on a masters course at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, where I will be spending 9 months with Stopgap Dance Company in Farnham, and then I'll be in Leeds completing my dissertation for 3 months once after my placement.

Doing this Masters feels like the perfect next step for my career, and when I started looking into it further of all the company's that offered placements Stopgap felt like it was the company I wanted to go to. The company works with deaf, disabled and neurodivergent dance artists, being involved in a company that is pushing forwards with their practice and performing innovate and creative work is a dream come true for this coming year.

There is no financial support for masters programmes beyond tuition fee loans. I am trying to fund my masters as independently as possible, so I have spent this year saving money working as a bartender. I was also really lucky to be in receipt of the Leverhulme Grant which contributes to the living costs over the course of the year.

My schedule with Stopgap is very full on and I wont be able to have a part time job alongside my placement. Having looked at all the costs and set a budget I am £5,000 short of what I need in order to give my all to and take full advantage of this amazing opportunity. Thanks for reading and if you want to be part of my story please consider giving whatever you can afford.