Funding needed to follow dance dream

AN Oldham College student who was made homeless while studying for his GCSEs has won a dream place at a top dance school.

But Hayden Burns, who lived in hostels for more than 16 months from the age of 16, fears he won’t be able to attend the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds.

The 20-year-old has no financial support from his family and is desperately trying to find the £1,090 tuition fees for September.

Hayden was left homeless and penniless when his mother and stepfather moved to Bulgaria.

He said: “Basically they turned me out a few weeks before they left.

“I did not really cope. I just dealt with it — that’s what you do.”

The former St Augustine School pupil lived in three hostels in Oldham before getting a house on St Mary’s estate.

He has completed a two-year dance diploma at Oldham College and has been accepted on a foundation course at the dance school.

But he explained: “It is a lot of money for me. I just need £370 to get the first term in, then I have got more time to raise money after that for the second term.”

Hayden is a member of the Young Oldham Dance Company and STRIDE, a Greater Manchester dance project for men.

Describing dance as his passion, he added: “I love the way it makes you feel on stage, under lights, in front of an audience.

Hayden is one of three male dancers on Oldham College’s dance diploma who have been offered a place at NCCD this year

People who would like to sponsor Hayden can telephone 0161 232 7179 or e-mail info@digm.org.uk