Teen ballerina Belle dances towards her dreams thanks to £500 creative bursary
Belle, a14-year-old Sunderland dancer achieves distinctions and merits after financial support helps pay for ballet shoes.
A talented 14-year-old dancer whose family received financial help to keep her creative dreams alive is celebrating a string of impressive exam results – including a distinction in singing and musical theatre.
Belle Collier, from Sunderland, has been supported through Culture Start Sunderland’s Ignite Bursary Programme, which helps young people whose families face financial barriers to accessing arts and cultural opportunities.
The funding has helped towards the mounting costs involved in developing Belle’s talents, including essential ballet shoes.
And Belle is making the most of every opportunity.
She has just completed her ballet iPath exam, achieving a Pass with Merit, while also gaining a Pass with Distinction in her musical theatre award.
Belle has also recently taken a singing exam, supported by the bursary, where she achieved another Distinction.
Earlier this year, she gained Passes with Merit in three dance examinations – Grade Four Ballet, 2nd Silver Bar Tap and Gold Modern.
Belle has already taken her talents onto one of the North East’s most famous stages, performing at Newcastle’s Theatre Royal as part of her dance show, and in October she is due to perform in a singing showcase.
Her mum Leanne said the financial support had made a real difference to the family.
“I want Belle to have the opportunities other children have,” she said.
“As a parent, there is a lot of pressure when it comes to finding the extra money to support your child’s talents, with the expense of ballet shoes, lessons, exams and competitions.
“The bursary money has really helped and it has given Belle a huge boost in confidence. We are so proud of everything she is achieving.”
Belle is one of 138 young people to have received support through Ignite, with 172 bursaries worth a total of £82,300 awarded since the programme began.
The scheme offers grants of up to £500 to young people aged 11–18 – and up to 25 for young people with SEND – who face financial or social barriers to developing their creative talents.
The support is particularly significant in Sunderland, where around 15,000 children are living in poverty.
Bursaries can pay for the practical things that can make the difference between a young person being able to pursue their talent or having to give it up – from equipment and instruments to specialist lessons, training and exam fees.
Nick Malyan, CEO of Sunderland Culture, said: “Belle’s story shows what can happen when a talented young person is simply given the opportunity to develop.
“Relatively small amounts of financial support can make a transformative difference. It might be ballet shoes or an exam fee, but behind that is something much bigger – confidence, aspiration and the belief that your circumstances should not determine what you can achieve.
“Talent exists in every community, but opportunity does not. Ignite is helping to bridge that gap.”
The latest round of the programme awarded 68 bursaries worth £32,800, amid growing demand from young people across Sunderland.
Independent evaluation has found that 84 per cent of Ignite recipients felt encouraged in their chosen art form, 82 per cent reported increased confidence in their creative practice and 87 per cent experienced a greater sense of achievement.
The programme comes as the Government launches its £132.5 million Every Child Can programme, designed to widen children’s access to enriching activities in arts and culture, sport, nature and life skills.
Nick added: “We warmly welcome the Government’s Every Child Can programme. Here in Sunderland, we are already seeing first-hand what happens when financial barriers are removed and young people are given the chance to fulfil their potential.”
The Ignite Bursary Programme is supported by the Gillian Dickinson Trust and forms part of Culture Start Sunderland’s work to ensure children and young people can access high-quality creative opportunities regardless of their financial circumstances.
Photo caption: Belle Collier, 14, celebrates her passion for dance in her new ballet shoes at Roker Lighthouse, Sunderland. Belle has achieved a string of merits and distinctions after receiving support through Culture Start Sunderland’s Ignite Bursary Programme.
Culture Start is a three-year programme working to reduce the long-term impact of poverty and improve life chances for children and young people in Sunderland through access to creative opportunities.
The Ignite Bursary Programme has:
Awarded 172 bursaries to date.
Supported 138 individual young people.
Invested £82,300 directly in young people’s creative development.
Awarded grants of up to £500.
Supported young people aged 11–18, and up to 25 for young people with SEND.
Been supported through funding from the Gillian Dickinson Trust.
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