My name is Taya Alleyne-Gumbs, and I have received funding from the Kieran Taylor Scholarship Trust. I am studying at Central School of Ballet and I am going into my graduate year. The head of Widening Participation at my school, Maxine Bunting Thomas, sent me the link to the website, and I applied through the website. I found the process very quick and easy and received a quick reply back. I used this award for the Northern Ballet Summer School; the money also went towards the travel to get me there. The award enabled me to train at a prestigious school during the summer before my graduate year. I was able to get taught by amazing teachers, one being Darcy Bussel, and have learnt new skills which will help me in my future. This also minimised the financial stress of having to find the funding to do so. I am extremely grateful to the Kieran Taylor Trust for supporting me and helping me make this opportunity possible. The experience has been incredibly valuable as I prepare to enter my graduate year and continue working towards a career in ballet.