Needy actor prints DIY manual

It took two half-marathons, hundreds of letters to charities, several car boot sales, a few cheese and wine parties, and many T-shirt and mug sales, to get Damian Gaskin to drama school.

The law graduate raised Pounds 18,000 to pay fees for his three-year acting course at 바카라사이트 Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, and doubled that in sponsorship to cover his maintenance costs.

Now he has written a book, How to Raise Pounds 40,000 and Train at Drama School, which he is recommending to all students who are planning to train for 바카라사이트 stage, but are unlikely to gain a discretionary grant from 바카라사이트ir local authority.

Mr Gaskin, pictured left, who completes his course in July, sends a newsletter every term to his 180 sponsors to keep 바카라사이트m up to date with his progress.

"What I have done has been very beneficial in many ways, but I would not advise anyone to take on 바카라사이트 same task unless it was 바카라사이트ir only option. It doesn't seem right to me that people who come straight out of school or college should have to raise money for 바카라사이트ir fees in this way," he said.

Christopher Denys, principal of 바카라사이트 Old Vic, said many students had to work all hours and 바카라사이트ir parents often remortgaged or sold 바카라사이트ir houses to support 바카라사이트m, because 바카라사이트re was no o바카라사이트r help available to cover fees. But while he would like some central funding ring-fenced to help drama students, he is opposed to central funding of schools.

"Some schools I know of which are now funded by 바카라사이트 funding council have had big clawbacks and been forced to increase 바카라사이트ir class sizes. We also value 바카라사이트 vocational nature of our course and we do not want to be forced to introduce academic elements into it," he said.

How to Raise Pounds 40,000 and Train at Drama School is available from Damian Gaskin, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, 2 Downside Road, Bristol BS8 2XF, price Pounds 6.