Dream comes true for Sunderland teenager Belle who has a passion for ballet
‘I want Belle to have the opportunities other children have’
A Sunderland teenager can step out in style as a talented young ballet dancer thanks to bursary award.
Belle Collier, 14, bought ballet shoes with the money she received to continue pursuing her passion for dance.
And Belle is not the only one. Young people across Sunderland have received more than £82,300 in creative development funding through Culture Start Sunderland’s Ignite Bursary Programme.
Since launching, the programme has awarded 172 bursaries to 138 young people, helping them access opportunities, equipment, training and experiences that would otherwise have been beyond their financial reach.
Belle’s mother, Leanne, said: “I want Belle to have the opportunities other children have. 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, taking part in competitions, and such. The bursary money has helped, as well as given Bella a huge boost of confidence.”
The Ignite Bursary supports young people aged 11–18 (up to 25, for young people with SEND) who face financial and social barriers to accessing creative and cultural opportunities.
The programme specifically targets young people experiencing poverty and disadvantage, including those eligible for Free School Meals, living in low-income households, young carers, care-experienced young people and those with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
Grants of up to £500 help recipients develop their skills, confidence and aspirations across a wide range of creative disciplines, including music, visual arts, theatre, photography, film, digital design, fashion and creative writing.
Nick Malyan, CEO of Sunderland Culture, said: “For Belle and many others, relatively small amounts of financial support can make a transformative difference. It’s not just about the ballet shoes, although these are of course crucial, it’s the belief, aspiration and confidence a bursary gives to young people, which helps build their confidence, resilience and hope. Its opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.”
Independent evaluation has found 84 per cent of Ignite recipients report that they felt encouraged in their chosen art form; 82 per cent report increased confidence in their creative practice, and 87 per cent experience a greater sense of accomplishment and achievement.
Nick added: “Creativity is more than a ‘nice to have’. It helps young people build confidence, resilience, relationships and aspirations. We know that talent exists in every community, but opportunity does not. Ignite is helping to bridge that gap, so a young person’s financial circumstances doesn’t dictate whether they can develop their creative potential.”
The Ignite Bursary Programme is supported through funding from the Gillian Dickinson Trust and forms part of Culture Start Sunderland’s wider mission to ensure every child and young person can access high-quality creative opportunities, regardless of their circumstances.
For more information about the Ignite bursary programme visit www.sunderlandculture.org.uk/projects-partnerships/culture-start/ignite-bursary/