Fundraising Factsheet

This fact sheet is intended for those who are seeking to gain financial support to help with the cost of training at drama school.  While the majority of training is funded through Higher Education or the Dance and Drama Awards (see How Much Does Training Cost?) a significant minority of students face the daunting task of fundraising.

This fact-sheet is intended for use as a starting point, bringing together the main books, published sources and a number of key organisations with relevant advice and expertise.

Drama schools often have specially endowed scholarships or bursaries to cover course fees for selected students.  Applicants should contact the drama schools to find out whether they qualify, at the time of making the first enquiries.

It is possible to raise funds from charities, trusts and foundations, however it is a time consuming project and needs careful planning and research.  There are many ways of raising funds: applications to grant-making trusts and public bodies for grants and subsidies; and to commercial companies for sponsorship. 

Advice

When applying for a grant, it is important to target prospective funders effectively.  Trusts, companies, local authorities, and statutory bodies do not respond well to circular letters or untargeted phone calls, and they are unlikely to succeed.  It is important to approach those funders whose priorities and concerns are directly relevant to your situation, needs and aims.  

Below is a list of organisations offering advice who can help applicants target appropriate funders and sponsors.

It is important to prepare funding applications carefully.  In applying to charities and trusts you need to be specific about how your needs and aims meet the objectives of the organisation.  Seek detailed advice on writing applications, and request any information and guidance notes that the charity or trust provides before making a written application. 

Consider approaching local businesses or trusts that may support training in the arts: ask your local library for more information.  Try contacting trade unions and other professional bodies and approach family contacts that could be useful.  You could try approaching individuals in the profession, but remember that well known actors and directors receive hundreds of requests from students every year – what makes your application different?

Click here to download a booklet by actor Damien Gaskin to find out how one drama school student raised the funds to train as an actor.  This account is somewhat factually dated, especially with regards to government funding, as Damien applied for funds in 1993, when student grants were still the norm, and were discretionary for Drama School students.  However, it included here as it does provide a useful insight into the practicalities of fundraising and the emotional resources needed to launch a successful fundraising campaign.

Finally it may be worthwhile considering the possibility of a Career Development Loan (information packs available by calling the DfES on 0800 585 505 or at www.lifelonglearning.co.uk). 

Organisations Offering Advice

Association of Charitable Foundations
Tel: 020 7255 44992
Central House
Upper Woburn Walk
London  WC1H 0AE
www.acf.org.uk

The UK's support organisation for grant making trusts and foundations of all types.  Contains useful information on the website but cannot give advice about individual applications, nor help grant-seekers find suitable funders.

The Council for Dance Education and Training (CDET)  
Tel: 020 7240 5703
Old Brewer’s Yard, 17-19 Neal Street London WC2H 9UY
www.cdet.org.uk

CDET offers advice to those embarking on courses in dance.

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES)
Advice Line: 0800 100 900
www.direct.gov.uk 

The DfES produces publications which gives details of grants available from LEAs to students who are taking first degrees and comparable courses; diploma of higher education courses, teacher training and HND courses.  Leaflets are free upon request.

The Education Grants Advisory Service
Student Service Line:

020 7254 6251(Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 2pm until 5pm)

Family Welfare Association
501-505 Kingsland Road
London E8 4AU
www.egas-online.org.uk
Set up to help students and parents by putting them in touch with likely sources of financial aid, also offering information about welfare grants. The Service advises students and parents faced with difficulties in their negotiations with LEAs and provide liaison with educational charities. There is also a useful online database which will search for charities appropriate for your course. 

Fame Academy Bursary to fund West End Dreams
Tel: 020 8576 8043
[email protected]

www.bbc.co.uk/fameacademybursary
Offering up to 20 awards worth a total of £150,000 to aspiring performers to kick start or continue their musical theatre studies.  Open for applications early spring.

The Fenton Arts Trust
PO Box 135, East Horsley, Surrey KT24 9AB

Grants are made towards the creative arts, principally painting and drama.  Applications in writing to Ms Shelley Baxter.

The Follett Trust
Tel: 01934 838337
17 Chescombe Road
Yatton,
Bristol  BS19 4EE
Contact M D Follett.

The Lawrence Atwell's Charity
Tel: 020 7213 0561
Skinner’s Hall
8 Dowgate Hill
London  EC4R 2SP
www.skinnershall.co.uk
The Charity assists young people (16-26) who come from a low-income background to become qualified or equipped to work in their chosen career.  Will only consider applications for funding a full-time, vocational, NCDT accredited drama course.  Application by form only (available on-line).  Initial enquiries by telephone are welcomed.  British students or refugees with indefinate leave to remain only.

Mackintosh Foundation
Tel: 020 7637 8866
1 Bedford Square
London  WC1B 3RA
Awards scholarships to promote and develop theatre and the performing arts.

The Rosemary Bugden Charitable Trust
Tel: 0117 917 3922
Osbourne Clarke
50 Queen Charlotte Street
Bristol  BS1 4HE
Contact J W Sharpe. Funding for performing arts in U.K

Sydney Dean Whitehead's Charitable Trust
Tel: 0161 952 9000
Ernest & Young
Sydney Dean Whitehead's Charitable Trust
1 Barbirolli Square
Manchester ME 3EY
Apply to the Secretary, in writing (including SAE).  The trustees apply their funds towards supporting parents with the educational costs of their children and respond more readily to appeals relating to children with special talents, particularly in the artistic fields.  They also respond more readily to appeals which show that there is an element of self-help already in operation and where a lack of finance could preclude children from receiving the type of education their particular 'gift' merits.

The Thomas Wall Trust
PO Box 52 781
London
EC2P 2UT
www.thomaswalltrust.org.uk

Contact Professor Geoffrey Holt. To make grants to students in need for educational, especially vocational, courses.  Applications from individuals may be made from January onwards preceding the start of the academic year for which the grant is sought, and will be considered for as long as the available funds allow. The amount of the grant is from £600 to £1,000.  Grant request is solely by application and all information and forms are available at

Winterbourne Charitable Trust
9 Wilton Row
London SW1X 7NR
Contact  A S D Barrett.

The Educational Grants Directory

By Michael Eastwood and David Casson.

Available from Directory of Social Change Ltd, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP.  020 7391 4800 www.dsc.org.uk

The Directory of Grant Making Trusts

Published by the Charities Aid Foundation.

Available at most public libraries and from Directory of Grant Making Trusts, Kingshill, West Malling, Kent ME19 4TA

Available from www.waterlow.com

Money To Study: The Complete Guide to Student Finance

Available from Family Welfare Association, 501-505 Kingsland Road, Dalston, London E8 4AU

www.scholarship-search.org.uk