Author donates 20 scholarships to local performing arts school

A businessman and author Andrew Hampshire, from Chislehurst, is giving something back to his local community by donating 20 scholarships to local performing arts school All the Arts.

The scholarships are aimed at children from families whose finances have been affected by the Covid crisis, meaning that they are no longer able to pay for their children to attend extra-curricular classes.

Former Brookside actor Lucy Morgans, who runs the school, which has branches in Bromley and Bexley, said: “This huge act of generosity is truly amazing.

We have many, many pupils who have attended drama and dance classes with us for a number of years, but recently haven’t been able to come to sessions due to their family’s financial situation.

“Our classes have run through[1]out the pandemic in our halls and also on Zoom, when restrictions haven’t allowed us to open.

“We have received so many letters from parents telling us that the classes have greatly improved their children’s mental health and focus during these troubling times. 20 local families.”

Andrew donated to a theatre school due to his personal belief that performing arts greatly enhances children’s confidence and self-esteem, no matter what their future holds.

The businessman performed in a band in his younger years and attributes the confidence this gave him to his success in the business world.