Gifted and talented Telford youngsters awarded grants of up to £1,000

Now in its second year, The Young Person Scheme offers young people in Telford & Wrekin up to £1,000 and is targeted at helping children and young people who have overcome challenging circumstances to achieve their aspirations.

A total of 55 applications were made for 2018, with 43 being successful.

The successful applicants attended Southwater One where they received their grants at a night dedicated to them.

Candidates ranged in skills from wheelchair footballers and BMX riders to budding scientists and chefs.

The scheme is funded by savings from reductions to cabinet allowances.

In 2011, the council’s cabinet chose to give up 10 per cent of its special responsibility allowance, helping to create a bursary fund for 2018 of £12,000.

The scheme opens to all children and young people up to the age of 25 who are residents in Telford & Wrekin.

The grants are given to those who have been identified as gifted, talented, excellent or exceptional by their teacher, professional worker or mentor in education, training, employment, sport, arts, culture, dance or music.

Leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, Shaun Davies, said: "We as a cabinet are dedicated to supporting success in the Borough and we thought a great way to demonstrate this was by giving up a percentage of an allowance and using the funds to support the young people in the borough who are striving to achieve.

"Each year it gives us a pot of £12,000 which we can use to support our young people with anything from specialist equipment such as microscopes, computers, dance equipment or travel costs for training, coaching and travel - often to some amazing destinations.

"We have been absolutely blown away by not only the talent but also the dedication and hard work these youngsters put into their passions and we wish them every success for the future."

Leah Ruscoe, 13, a dancer from Telford, was highlighted as an exceptional talent and attended the awards at Southwater One.

She said: "I do all types of dance but I struggled massively at first with my confidence in performing.

"Now I feel that the performing arts have helped me overcome my fears and I've met some incredible people that have pushed me and helped me along the way.

"I have got into Elmhurst Ballet School in Birmingham, so I'm going to use the grant to pay for the classes there and to travel to the school on the train."