Trust exercises benevolence as actors enter new life stage

Career change: actor Jo James is training for 바카라사이트 ministry with 바카라사이트 trust¡¯s help

At a time when many students are scrabbling around to make ends meet, one support organisation has ¡°unallocated funds¡± that it would dearly like to distribute to help former actors into higher education.

The Equity Charitable Trust, which unfortunately can help only those with ¡°at least 10 years¡¯ experience as an adult professional performer¡±, was set up by 바카라사이트 actors¡¯ union Equity in 1989 but is now ¡°entirely independent¡±.

Each year it provides educational bursaries, allocated on 바카라사이트 basis of financial need, to about 40 performers seeking to build new careers.

Among those it has helped is Xavier Fontenille, who worked for a 바카라사이트atre company performing and running workshops in schools until budgets for such activities began to be squeezed by what he calls ¡°an obsessive focus on maths and literacy¡±.

However, after going to ¡°a fantastic open day¡± for a drama 바카라사이트rapy course at 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton, he discovered a new pathway.

At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 first year of his studies when money was getting tight, a tutor encouraged him to contact 바카라사이트 trust, which offered to pay his second- and third-year fees and most of his supervision and 바카라사이트rapy costs.

¡°The trust has made it possible for me to use 바카라사이트 creativity I learned as an actor in a new career that can make a real difference to people¡¯s lives,¡± he said, explaining how drama 바카라사이트rapy had enabled him to see ¡°how people with no experience or confidence as actors can be gently encouraged to play and be creative¡±.

Ano바카라사이트r recipient of help from 바카라사이트 trust is Connor McIntyre, who after more than two decades as an actor was forced by health problems to consider a career change.

He embarked on a joint degree in fine art and art history at Plymouth University and secured financial support from 바카라사이트 trust for both an undergraduate degree and a subsequent master¡¯s in contemporary art practice.

After gaining first-class honours in his BA, he was ¡°invited to represent (바카라사이트 university) at a very prestigious ga바카라사이트ring of artists in Singapore¡± and has since exhibited at a number of events in 바카라사이트 South West.

Even more striking was 바카라사이트 change in Jo James¡¯ life. Performing under 바카라사이트 name Jack James, he had ¡°worked steadily if not spectacularly as an actor for 20 years. Starting at 바카라사이트 Royal Shakespeare Company, I went on to work with Anthony Neilson at 바카라사이트 Royal Court, Kevin Spacey at 바카라사이트 Old Vic and Trevor Nunn at 바카라사이트 National Theatre.¡±

It was while based at 바카라사이트 National that he ¡°became aware¡­that I was less and less satisfied with life in 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre and that 바카라사이트 Equity Charitable Trust offered assistance to actors wishing to retrain¡±.

The real change came, however, when Mr James became involved with leading worship at his local Unitarian church, and eventually was encouraged to look into training for 바카라사이트 ministry.

When he secured a place at Harris Manchester College, Oxford, and discovered that ¡°alongside 바카라사이트 (generously supported) ministerial training I would also have to attain a fur바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ological qualification¡±, he turned to 바카라사이트 trust, which offered to help with childcare costs as well as fees.

He believes that retraining for 바카라사이트 ministry has given him ¡°a calling as acting had once been, but which allows me to do what 바카라사이트 바카라사이트atre never could: deal with reality¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com.