Ellie Tapley – Future Star nominee
Ellie Tapley – Future Star nominee
Ellie Tapley volunteers three times each week to help train aspiring musical theatre performers alongside attending classes herself.
The 16-year-old arrives at Rooftop Studios in Leek at 8.45am every Saturday morning to volunteer with three- to six-year-olds. She spends Saturday afternoons in her own classes.
She returns on Tuesdays after school to volunteer with ballet and tap groups and on Fridays to volunteer at aerial classes, alongside her own additional classes two evenings each week.
Ellie, who lives in the Staffordshire Moorlands, has kept her volunteering going throughout her GCSE exams and aspires to open her own performing arts studio one day to work with underprivileged children. She wants to show that arts are accessible for all and possibly do some work on the stage or within the media herself first.
She has been nominated in the Future Star category of the Your Heroes Awards by her proud mum, Nicky Tapley.
Nicky said: “Ellie has volunteered every Saturday morning for over four years, since the age of 12. Then she goes and does her own classes so is there most of the day on Saturday doing what she loves.
“She was asked at a young age to help as the studio could see her ability with younger pupils. They have really helped her blossom and grow into a beautiful, confident young lady. I am very grateful to the studio staff for giving her this opportunity.
“She goes to the studio when many others sleep, sets up the classes for the teachers, and assists running the performing arts classes. The children adore her.
“She does this all for free and is amazing at it. So much so, in this last year she has also been asked to assist in two other classes a week which is more than five hours a week volunteering whilst still completing her own classes and also this year her GCSEs too.”
Ellie has volunteered at day camps during the summer and may now go on to study performing arts.
Nicky said: “Beyond the hours she contributes, she serves as an excellent role model for other young people. She really tries to demonstrate that age is no barrier to making a meaningful impact and inspire others to become involved in their community through their actions.
“None of her friends can understand why he volunteers and isn’t after gaining money or even partying. But she sees past financial gain and looks at it in a different way. She’s even got her sister helping out some Saturdays too now and teaching her the importance of helping others and the skills you get when you do this.
“She is very good at all she does and has a real drive to help others and form connections through the performing arts sector. Rooftop Studios Leek has more than 300 students and she loves being a part of it. They perform in various locations and have the Frozen show coming up in November performing at the Mitchell Arts Centre in Hanley.”
Nicky added: “She makes us very proud very single day with her commitment and dedication to her volunteering and Rooftop Studios.”