Dancing Poulton teen bags a £50,000 Italian Conti scholarship in London but he needs your help!

Toby Pettitt, 17, from Poulton has been offered a place at the world-renowned Italia Conti School for Performing Arts in London worth around £50,000 over three years.

But despite working part time while studying and his mum taking on two jobs he’s worried he may not be able to afford the high living expenses in the capital.

Toby didn’t start dance lessons until he was 15 and was told it might have been to late but his hard work has paid off. He attends Blackpool Sixth and has been going to the Fylde Stage Academy (FSA) in Preesall for a number of years.

He said: “I’m so excited to go to Italia Conti. I found out when I was on a bus when I check ed my emails and my mum started crying when she found out. It’s a really big opportunity for me.

To find out more about Toby's journey and help donate go to Toby’s Italia Conti Journey - Living in London"I have achieved so much in such a short time and that has been down to the help of Di Barron at FSA and Blackpool Sixth as well. I just hope I can make the move to the next step in my career and get the chance to study at Italia Conti."

Toby’s dance teacher says he has ‘exceptional talent.

Lucinda Campbell, head of performing arts, music and media at Blackpool Sixth, added: “When Toby first came to the college we knew he had exceptional potential in dance and musical theatre.

“He is someone who excels not just in dance but also vocally and in his acting technique. Italia Conti will give him the opportunity to develop his vocational training in all three disciplines.”

The school, named after the actress Italia Conti, opened in 1911 and teaches dance, singing and acting. In recent years it has produced famous UK names including the likes of Kelly Brook, Pixie Lott and Russell Brand.

Toby’s mother Karen Deakin, 41 said it will be a struggle but she wants to make Toby’s dreams come true.

She said: “I am immensely proud of Toby and for him to go to Italia Conti, which is the pinnacle of performing arts schools is unbelievable but it’s situated in London . We have worked out some bills and reckon it will cost £1,000 a month for him to move down there. Being a single income family obviously has its difficulties but this shouldn't prevent Toby from achieving great things.

“So we are looking for help, ideally a performing arts company who could be paid back in performances but we have also set up a Go Fund Me page for other to help donate."