Central has 1,000 students, each one recruited because we believe that they have the potential to shape the future of excellent theatre and performance in the UK and beyond.

At Central, our priority is the wellbeing of our students; with their income from working in bars, restaurants, shops and theatres affected by COVID-19, we are preparing to help those in most need. Living in London costs each student at least £15,000 a year, plus any equipment they need; to help with this, each year Central distributes £0.5m in financial aid to our students. We are preparing to give out more to help them cope during this difficult time.

We are asking everyone who cares about the future of the industry to donate now and help us to provide the financial aid needed to prevent our students falling into hardship.

Your support is much needed and will be much appreciated; one student wrote this thank you letter to donors today (18 March 2020):

"Receiving this scholarship means a lot to me because I have been paying my way through university through my savings and working over weekends or after school, and your gift will help me to continue my education and become the first person in my family to graduate from a higher education! Thank you so much. I really have been under so much pressure and this was such a bright light in a dark time. Especially with the current situation in the world.

Though schools have been shut down, I think that when the students are allowed to return to campus and resume their studies, we will come back with a vigour and passion like never before.

I live with a lot of other actors on the course and throughout these upcoming months we will continue remotely studying, and also trying to give small lectures or advice to younger actors in our home towns via skype so their spark can still stay alive as well.

I would have been in so much financial distress and did not know what to do without your support. Now I feel like I have a backing and am on good footing going forward with art, and also with trying to being a positive light in someone else's life as you've been in mine."

(Please note that any Gift Aid linked to donations to this Campaign will be used to support the core work of Central such as teaching and online resources needed by our students.)