West London Performing Arts Academy is UK non-profit of the year

An Ealing based performing arts charity has been awarded Club Hub UK's non-profit of the year.

( June Billham,Shanti Babrah,Michelle Welch)

The founders are local mums Michelle Welch, June Billham & Shanti Babrah. With over 80 years' experience between them as teachers, agents, managers, performers and after having run performing arts classes for other people they wanted to start their own community based facility and in 2012 West London Performing Arts Academy (WLPAA) was born, recently moving to Northfields.

WLPA is a registered charity and offers a variety of classes including performing arts for ages 3 upwards. 1:15-3:30pm every Saturday during term time. All students perform in both end of term displays - fully costumed with lighting on a stage.   There are also SEN Classes (SEND) for children & young people up to aged 21. 3:30-5pm every Saturday during term time. WLPA also has an Education Centre offering part time education for children and young people who struggling with mainstream learning environment.

Charity supporter, Shanice Noble says, '' Due to funding for the Arts and SEND being cut in schools WLPA's provision is evermore important.  Not enough establishments/organisations offer affordable activities and education within a positive learning environment. WLPA Academy do. They go above and beyond. I have worked in many schools in London as a TA, dance teacher and as an intervention teacher. I know especially in the Ealing borough there are so many children in need of a healthy/positive/nurturing environment and so many parents and carers that need support and a positively active community. They are in desperate need. Not enough people are aware that there are small pockets of positivity within our borough that can make such an impact - even more so when people are aware and don't turn a blind eye.''

Find out more about them here.

14 May 2019