Cumbrian based Razzamataz Theatre Schools ran for its students on Sunday May 12th as some of its Principals and teachers took part in the Sheffield Half Marathon.

The Carlisle, Barnet, Medway, Maidstone, Sheffield and Chester branches are part of the national chain of part-time performing arts schools, which shot to fame on BBC’s Dragons’ Den after an investment from Duncan Bannatyne. Together the whole network of theatre schools are pooling resources, ideas and talent to launch their very own registered charity to support students going on to higher education in the performing arts.

The Future Fund is a potentially life changing award for a young person. It will be presented to a Razzamataz student in their final year of school looking to progress their performing ambitions. The Future Fund will help finance a scholarship to train at a performing arts college and will be offered to an exceptionally talented and dedicated student.

“Congratulations to all the runners who took part in the Sheffield half marathon” says Razzamataz investor Duncan Bannatyne. “This is a great way to kick start the Future Fund charity campaign and shows how committed the Razz team are to their students.”

Many of those taking part have never run any distance races before so this is a real challenge. “I’m wasn’t really a runner at all but I believe very much in our charity so it’s great to be involved,” says Emma Norgate, Teacher at Razzamataz Carlisle. “Razzamataz is all about our students benefiting from the hugely positive effects that the performing arts have. As well as improving health and fitness, participation in theatre arts has been shown to benefit children in many different areas as they acquire life and performance skills. We often talk to our students about challenging themselves in life and really going for what they believe!”

“I’m incredibly proud to be part of the Future Fund charity and really believe we will be changing many people’s lives,” adds Denise Gosney, Principal at Razzamataz Carlisle and Razzamataz Theatre Schools Managing Director. “It is very expensive to go on to college to study performing arts and it takes real dedication, commitment and talent to secure a place so it will be an honour to support students through their training. Who knows, maybe one day in the future, one of our little Razz Minis currently aged four will be the recipient of the Future Fund Award.”

*Future Fund applications will open in 2015. Any student applying must have been attending classes at Razzamataz for two years consecutively. The Future Fund proposes to help finance a scholarship for ONE student in the whole of the UK Razzamataz network after a rigorous audition process.*