A 13-year-old street dancer, a 15-year-old archer and a 23-year-old singer labelled Britain’s Taylor Swift are among Cornwall’s latest young talents to benefit from a £24,000 grant fund from Young and Talented Cornwall – putting them one step closer to achieving their dreams.  

Designed to support emerging talents, the fund helps the next generation of superstars who otherwise lack the means to achieve their potential across a wide range of skill areas, from sports and performing arts to music and science. 

Since 2005 Young & Talented Cornwall, The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund, has provided grants worth more than £350,000.

Aneta Kopec and Chloe Scott from St Austell, Joby Breslaw, Imogen Wood, Oren Hirtenstein, Rosemary Edwards, Sienna Harvey and Eleanor Dash from Penzance, are among Cornwall’s latest young talents to benefit from the fund.

Others include iTunes star Bailey Tomkinson from St Ives – Ella-Grace Atkinson-Townsend from Truro, Gracie Giles from Looe, Maximillian Morrison from Redruth, Nikita Midgley from Saltash, Poppy Northcott from Torpoint and Samantha Rowe from Liskeard.

Lord Lieutenant Colonel Edward Bolitho OBE who heads the grant scheme, said: “It’s such a pleasure to be able to support these talented young Cornish people who have demonstrated exceptional talent in such a wide variety of fields. The wealth of talent we have in Cornwall never fails to impress me and investing in this next generation of artists, athletes, and creative talent is vital for the cultural and economic growth of our community.”

Applications for the next round of grants are now open. 

List of recipients:

Street dancer Aneta Kopec, 13, came first in UK Street Dance Challenge in Taunton 2022 and qualified in UDO World Street Dance Championships in 2019 and 2020. Her future aim is to begin dance school in London after she graduates and eventually dance on big stages and become a choreographer. 

Chloe Scott, 15, is ranked fourth in the UK under-16s and 23rd in UK seniors for archery. Her aim is to make the GB Junior team and compete in the European championships in Switzerland this June.

Eleanor Dash, is ranked first in the National Junior Indoor Rowing Championships (NJIRC) for Year 13 girls’ in 2022. Her future aim is to attend GB trials and make it into the GB team.

Acrobatic gymnast Ella-Grace Atkinson-Townsend, 14, has been a South West champion twice and has been put on a Southwest team pathway. She trains with a Team GB coach and will be included within the Great Britain team selection process. Her biggest achievement to date is being selected to represent her club, the South West team and GB at the Maia international World Cup in March 2023. Her future aim is to be selected for Team GB. 

Gracie Giles, 14, is currently studying at Royal Ballet School and took part in The Nutcracker at The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. Her                                                                                    future aim is to successfully audition for Upper School, then a Classical Ballet Company and to work professionally. 

Endurance athlete Imogen Wood, 22, represented Cornwall in France at the Tout Rennes Court 10k and came 11th Internationally. She has been running since she was seven years old and has a long term goal of representing Great Britain in cross country, track and triathlon events.

Budding footballer Joby Breslaw, 14, was recently scouted by the Plymouth Argyle centre of excellence. His future aim is to be selected for Cornwall U16s, then potentially study in USA for football training alongside studying. 

Maximillian Morrison, 17, plays the Baritone horn, the Penny Whistle and the Euphonium. He spent seven years in Camborne Brass Band. In 2022 joined folk band The Horners and Redruth Festival Band. His future aim is to play Cornish music on Golithian pipes. Maximillian has a passion for Cornish folk music and wants to break some of the stigma that surrounds it. 

Nikita Midgley, 18, is working towards being a professional sculptor combining sculptures with taxidermy. 

Oren Hirtenstein, 22, Penzance, is a composer and recently composed music for the Golden Sun Festival and South Korea Film Festival. Oren has twice been selected as a young composer commissioned by Martin Read Foundation. His ambition is to be a recognised composer writing music at edge of his limits.

Poppy Northcott, 16, was ranked first in UK for 600m under-16s in 2019. Poppy has broken numerous county records for middle distance, sprints and hurdles and is ranked fourth in the UK for 300m hurdles U17s. Her future aim is to get to Youth Commonwealth games then onto Olympics. 

Rosemary Edwards, 18 is ranked second in Europe under 18 Surfski 2021, ranked fourth in the Worlds U18 Portugal 2022. Spanish Euro Challenge under-18 champion 2021 and 2022. Her future aim is to be the first GB lady to stand on the podium at the worlds.

Flautist and soprano Samantha Rowe, 22, recently played Principal Flute in the Eden Project Orchestra. In the next five years Samantha hopes to have a seat in one of the UK’s leading orchestras, and use that platform as a spring board to provide attention to areas of the UK that would benefit the most from outreach through music.

Sienna Harvey, 16 is a BMX racer and South West champion in the 17-year-old plus age group. She came first in British Championships for female 16 years-old category. Her aim for future is to be selected for GB Senior Academy in October 2024. 

Terry Michael, 17, of Port Isaac, holds 16 national medals and 29 Cornish medals for surf life saving, ski paddler and ocean ski paddler sports. His future aim is to be selected into GB teams again 2023 and 2024 get on the podium this year.

Saffron Cripps, 17, from Launceston, has been selected to be part of the AoC England College hockey squad for the 22/23 season. She won the 2022 Cardon Ladies’ Ones West Women’s Division 2 South league. 

Shannon Tree, 20, from Helston, studies at Jason Thomas Foundation College studying singing, acting and dancing. She is currently working towards a grade 8. Future aim is to get a place on a musical theatre course. 

Bailey Tomkinson, 23, from St Ives, has had multiple #1 iTunes singles and music videos, supported Feeder, Keane, Kt Tunstall and has performed at Boardmasters and The Great Escape festivals.

Irish dancer Ellie Prason, 14, from Falmouth, is ranked 11th in Britain in age category. She progressed from beginner to open level in five years.