Help Lola build a future
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A brilliant, talented, kindhearted and gentle young girl needs help creating a future for herself.
Lola is 16 and has the most incredible talent as an illustrator and animator (see pictures of her artwork below!)
But there’s a problem.
Despite her indisputable talent, which has been recognised by her local art college, she’s been denied a place.
Why? She doesn’t have a Maths GCSE.
Now this poses a serious problem because Lola will never have a Maths GCSE.
Not only does she have Autism, she also has severe Dyscalculia, which is a neurological condition that means that Lola cannot compute numbers.
And I mean not at all. She can’t tell the time, count money or comprehend any type of arithmetic. No amount of study or coaching is ever going to change this. It’s an irreversible brain abnormality.
Now you might wonder what a Maths GCSE has to do with studying art and illustration?
The answer is nothing, but unfortunately under current government legislation every student going to college has to have a pass level at GCSE Maths, or study towards it.
Lola can’t simply ‘study towards it’ because it makes her really ill. So much so that her GP has categorically advised against it.
Lola’s parents have worked tirelessly to try and circumvent this requirement given Lola’s recognised disabilities, but have faced a litany of closed doors.
In short, the Parliamentary Secretary of State for Children and Families said Lola must have an Education Health and Care Plan in order to negate this requirement.
The Local Authority has said that Lola can only get one of these plans if her parents provide significant evidence from education and health professionals on the impact of her disabilities.
And here lies the rub.
Lola’s education records have been lost by her school and/or the local authority, both of whom blame the other but without any solution to offer. So, there’s no evidence available to provide.
And despite countless hours of research and GP visits, to date Lola’s parents can’t find an NHS or private educational psychologist or neuropsychologist who will accept a referral for Lola. It appears that nobody specialises in neurocognitive assessments for Dyscalculia in young people. So, they haven't been able to get evidence from a health professional either.
All this means Lola cannot study art at college. Without that qualification, she can’t achieve the UCAS points she needs to study illustration at university, which was her dream goal.
The real kicker is that Lola REALLY wants to build a self-sustaining future for herself, doing what she loves and is really talented at.
This young girl does not want to fall out of the system and spend her life living on benefits.
So, I’m asking you to help her chart her own course and build the future she’s wholeheartedly capable of. One that shows what’s possible even when the traditional educational routes are unfairly closed to you.
To do just that, Lola needs the industry-standard technology that will enable her to produce illustrations and animations in a format the industry requires and will pay for.
The challenge is that it’s super expensive.
Unfortunately, despite countless applications for funding that have gone nowhere, and saving whatever they can, her family simply don’t have the means for it.
So that’s where you come in!
To help Lola develop her gift and afford her the best opportunity to seek employment as an illustrator/animator, I’m asking you to donate to her fund so that she can upgrade her drawing and animation software.
As you can see from the pictures, Lola has a natural talent for digital illustration. Her artwork has featured in The Times newspaper, won national competitions and even drawn the attention of Channel 4’s The Supervet.
Lola has what it takes to make it – now, she just needs the opportunity to grow.
Your donation, however small, will support the most gentle, kind and selfless young lady in creating a viable and hopeful future.
Let’s help Lola ensure her gift, determination and passion are not wasted.
Please help me to raise funds to purchase the specialist equipment Lola needs to secure an independent life doing what she loves.
Thank you for all your support. I’m genuinely thankful and you are awesome!!
Alison x
Breakdown of costs you are helping to fund:
Apple MAC 27" PC & warranty (£2,138)
64GB 2666MHZ DDR4 Memory (£900)
Magic Mouse 2 + Magic Trackpad (129)
A Wacom Intuos Pro Drawing Tablet (199)
12-month subscription to Toon Boom Harmony Animation Software (£540)
12-month subscription to Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and XD (£596)
12-month subscription to Storyboard Pro Software (£382)
Rode Voice-over Microphone (£130)
Total: £5,014
Lola is 16 and has the most incredible talent as an illustrator and animator (see pictures of her artwork below!)
But there’s a problem.
Despite her indisputable talent, which has been recognised by her local art college, she’s been denied a place.
Why? She doesn’t have a Maths GCSE.
Now this poses a serious problem because Lola will never have a Maths GCSE.
Not only does she have Autism, she also has severe Dyscalculia, which is a neurological condition that means that Lola cannot compute numbers.
And I mean not at all. She can’t tell the time, count money or comprehend any type of arithmetic. No amount of study or coaching is ever going to change this. It’s an irreversible brain abnormality.
Now you might wonder what a Maths GCSE has to do with studying art and illustration?
The answer is nothing, but unfortunately under current government legislation every student going to college has to have a pass level at GCSE Maths, or study towards it.
Lola can’t simply ‘study towards it’ because it makes her really ill. So much so that her GP has categorically advised against it.
Lola’s parents have worked tirelessly to try and circumvent this requirement given Lola’s recognised disabilities, but have faced a litany of closed doors.
In short, the Parliamentary Secretary of State for Children and Families said Lola must have an Education Health and Care Plan in order to negate this requirement.
The Local Authority has said that Lola can only get one of these plans if her parents provide significant evidence from education and health professionals on the impact of her disabilities.
And here lies the rub.
Lola’s education records have been lost by her school and/or the local authority, both of whom blame the other but without any solution to offer. So, there’s no evidence available to provide.
And despite countless hours of research and GP visits, to date Lola’s parents can’t find an NHS or private educational psychologist or neuropsychologist who will accept a referral for Lola. It appears that nobody specialises in neurocognitive assessments for Dyscalculia in young people. So, they haven't been able to get evidence from a health professional either.
All this means Lola cannot study art at college. Without that qualification, she can’t achieve the UCAS points she needs to study illustration at university, which was her dream goal.
The real kicker is that Lola REALLY wants to build a self-sustaining future for herself, doing what she loves and is really talented at.
This young girl does not want to fall out of the system and spend her life living on benefits.
So, I’m asking you to help her chart her own course and build the future she’s wholeheartedly capable of. One that shows what’s possible even when the traditional educational routes are unfairly closed to you.
To do just that, Lola needs the industry-standard technology that will enable her to produce illustrations and animations in a format the industry requires and will pay for.
The challenge is that it’s super expensive.
Unfortunately, despite countless applications for funding that have gone nowhere, and saving whatever they can, her family simply don’t have the means for it.
So that’s where you come in!
To help Lola develop her gift and afford her the best opportunity to seek employment as an illustrator/animator, I’m asking you to donate to her fund so that she can upgrade her drawing and animation software.
As you can see from the pictures, Lola has a natural talent for digital illustration. Her artwork has featured in The Times newspaper, won national competitions and even drawn the attention of Channel 4’s The Supervet.
Lola has what it takes to make it – now, she just needs the opportunity to grow.
Your donation, however small, will support the most gentle, kind and selfless young lady in creating a viable and hopeful future.
Let’s help Lola ensure her gift, determination and passion are not wasted.
Please help me to raise funds to purchase the specialist equipment Lola needs to secure an independent life doing what she loves.
Thank you for all your support. I’m genuinely thankful and you are awesome!!
Alison x
Breakdown of costs you are helping to fund:
Apple MAC 27" PC & warranty (£2,138)
64GB 2666MHZ DDR4 Memory (£900)
Magic Mouse 2 + Magic Trackpad (129)
A Wacom Intuos Pro Drawing Tablet (199)
12-month subscription to Toon Boom Harmony Animation Software (£540)
12-month subscription to Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and XD (£596)
12-month subscription to Storyboard Pro Software (£382)
Rode Voice-over Microphone (£130)
Total: £5,014
Organizer and beneficiary
Alison O'Leary
Organizer
Martine COTTER
Beneficiary
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