The Place has a range of opportunities for young people to dance, both as a healthy and social form of recreation, and with the aim of developing the potential of talented young dancers.
Iris Tomlinson Fund
Making dance accessible to children is a priority for The Place. The Iris Tomlinson Fund is a much needed ‘access’ fund specifically designed to help disadvantaged children fulfil their dancing potential.
The scheme has been dedicated to Iris Tomlinson in recognition of her work over the past three decades, shaping the Young Dancers’ Saturday classes into the much loved and unique programme we have today. Iris left The Place in autumn 2011 and this fund will is her lasting legacy, honouring her commitment to the development of young dancers.
You can support the Fund by giving online or by downloading and returning an Iris Tomlinson Fund Donation Form.
You can also donate to the Iris Tomlinson Fund by text, simply text ‘ITAF12 10’ to 70070 to donate £10
Fund for Excellence - Centre for Advanced Training
The Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) is for children and young people with exceptional potential and the ambition to become professional dance artists. They are a national network delivering non-residential intensive training programmes for young people aged 10-18. Although the Centre for Advanced Training is funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and managed by the Music and Dance Scheme, who allocate means tested grants to families who would find the fees financially challenging, this support simply cannot be extended to everyone.
We are increasingly finding that exceptionally talented children are unable to complete their training due to the increasing financial pressure being felt by their parents in the current economic climate. For this reason The Place expanded the Fund for Excellence, which distributes grants and bursaries to students in need of financial support. These bursaries make a real difference to those students who might otherwise not have the resources necessary to complete their training.
You can support the Fund by giving online or by downloading and returning a Fund for Excellence donation form.
You can also donate to the Fund for Excellence for CAT by text, simply text ‘CATF12 10’ to 70070 to donate £10
Alternatively, if you would like to discuss supporting CAT Students through the Fund for Excellence please contact Stephen Clarke in the Development Department on 0207 121 1051 or email
Ways you can give: