A SINGER-SONGWRITER from York can pursue her dreams of attending a top song-writing course after an appeal for help raised more than £2,000 in less than two days.
Huntington School pupil Cat White, 18, who is a carer for her disabled mother and whose family has severe financial difficulties, had feared she would not be able to take up the offer of a place on a one-year diploma course at the British Institute of Music in Manchester.
Student Finance England did not offer the normal package that would be available for a degree course and her family could not afford to fully fund her accommodation and living expenses.
Huntington head teacher John Tomsett decided to help out by launching an online appeal to raise £1,600 for Cat – and could not believe the ‘incredible generosity’ of the response from people across York and from as far away as Margate and Holland.
Head teacher John Tomsett launched an online appeal
“I am quite overwhelmed at the support Cat’s cause has received,” he posted on the Justgiving fundraising site, crowdfunding.justgiving.com/john-tomsett-2.
“Sitting here in tears. Huge thanks to everyone who has contributed. Amazing stuff!”
One donor posted: “I’m an art teacher and artist in the Netherlands. I encourage my pupils to follow their dreams, it’s great to see that that’s exactly what you are doing, the very best of luck.”
Another posted: “I’m a headteacher in Margate and I have to say I was very moved by your passion and obvious talent. Go girl.”
Cat, of Bell Farm, who hopes to use the course as a ‘stepping stone’ onto a full composing degree course, for which she will get student finance, said: “I’m completely overwhelmed by the reaction to the appeal and immensely grateful, not just for the donations but the comments people have made which show so much faith in me.”
She said that for as long as she could remember, she had had a passion for music. “Through my love for singing and a really supportive music department at school, I have for the past seven years been able to nurture and enjoy this passion. I am absolutely certain that this is the future pathway I want to follow.”
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