Help Me Fund My MA in Acting at East 15

Hello, my name is Jen, and I am an actor and community artist. I am currently halfway into my one year MA Acting course at the renowned East 15 Acting School in Essex, and I’m fundraising to help cover the remainder of my tuition fees.

This journey is deeply personal. I come to acting and performance from a trauma-informed perspective, shaped by my own experiences of tragedy and bereavement. In 2012. I was all set to move to London to pursue my acting career when my younger brother was tragically killed. Overcome with grief and a lack of motivation meant that I put my dream to one side, and I spent 10 years working in hospitality.

Recognising the need for more creativity in my life, I decided to return to higher education at age 34, and now I can say the arts have truly changed my life! Acting has given me a way to process, heal, and reconnect with myself and others.

Now, at 37 years old, I have worked tirelessly over the past two years to achieve my BA in Performance and graduated with a First-Class Honours degree. I am also proud to say that I have been awarded a Double Court Medal for academic excellence.

I’m also aware that it is incredibly rare for Scottish artists to be accepted into East 15, and I’m proud to have beaten the odds to secure my place on this prestigious programme.

Alongside my studies, I’ve been working with G20 Youth Club and Glasgow Girls’ Club, supporting young people and women through creative, inclusive, community-driven projects. This work continues to demonstrate to me the importance of storytelling, care, and creativity in fostering resilience and wellbeing.

I've managed to cover some of the costs of tuition fees and living expenses from £30,000.

Now I am seeking just £2,500 to help fund the remainder of my tuition fees. Any contribution, big or small, would mean the world to me. It’s not just support for my education, but an investment in my ability to create, heal, and give back through the arts.

Now more than ever we need the arts to help bring joy, culture and political understanding into people's lives. Whether you watch film and TV for entertainment or educational purposes, the arts are essential to provoke important conversations amongst people.

Thank you for reading and for considering supporting my journey. If you can’t donate, I’d be so grateful if you could share this page with others who might be able to help.

I truly believe that life is too short, and we should follow our dreams. I am asking for your help to achieve mine

With gratitude

Jen