Central Receives Generous Grant From The Leverhulme Trust

The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a grant of £414,620 from the Leverhulme Trust in support of student scholarships and further support for its internationally recognised work in Applied Theatre.

The generous award has doubled the amount of funding that Central has previously received from the Leverhulme Trust. The funding forms part of Leverhulme's Arts Scholarship programme and will support the student scholarships and the School's applied theatre work for the period of 2019 - 2021.

Since the first grant in 2007, Leverhulme funding has enabled Central's Applied Theatre students to learn through vital work study projects and to undertake key elements of their training via placements outside London. Through the generous, ongoing support of the Leverhulme Trust, students are supported as they learn from working within special needs schools in Cornwall, hospitals in South Africa and with impoverished communities in Mumbai to name just a few. These placements enable students to develop their learning in a variety of social and community contexts, developing the necessary experience and skills to secure professional work upon graduation - thus providing them with the very best possibility for employment. In continuing to enable their participation in these excellent and innovative projects, support from the Leverhulme Trust helps Central graduates to stand out.

Of the generous grant Professor Sally Mackey, Central's Associate Director (Research and Projects), said:

"This award will change many lives, helping maintain our passionate commitment to training excellent theatre practitioners. We thank the Trust warmly and with sincere gratitude."

The new grant will also make six new scholarships each year available, with a value of £10,000 each. These scholarships will provide additional funding and support to enable students on any full-time course to benefit from outstanding training and education regardless of personal or financial circumstances. This significant sum will support Central students during their studies and help to alleviate the costs of studying, accommodation, food and travel.

For more information about Central's long-standing relationship with Leverhulme, including information on applying for one of Central's new Leverhulme Scholarships, please visit Central's website.