THE Duke of Cornwall led a celebration of outstanding young Cornish talent last night (Monday, November 17) as part of YT20, a grand gala showcase held to mark the 20th anniversary of Young & Talented Cornwall, The Lord Lieutenant’s Fund.

Hosted at the Hall for Cornwall in Truro, the event saw internationally renowned Cornish luminaries collaborate with emerging young stars to put on an aspirational evening of Cornish talent, demonstrating that with the right support, no dream is beyond reach.

In a filmed message played to a packed auditorium of young people and their families, past recipients and fund supporters, HRH The Duke of Cornwall declared Cornwall “a beacon of creativity, imagination and achievement”.

He said: “Young people should be enabled to thrive and flourish, and no talent should be held back by financial or social challenges.”

Video messages of support were also recorded by actors Dame Judi Dench and Dawn French, singer Will Young and Olympic rower Helen Glover OBE, a former Young & Talented Cornwall grant recipient herself.

As well as being an aspirational evening of dance, theatre and music, the event celebrated the latest Young & Talented Cornwall grant recipients, from musicians and singers, to dancers, sportsmen and women, scientists and creative writers.

These include Lucy Beasley, a 16-year-old writer from Callington; accomplished 14-year-old cyclist Lauren Fox from St Ives; and Tom Knight, a 17-year-old STEM enthusiast from Poundstock, near Bude.

The evening began with a procession from the Cathedral to the Hall for Cornwall, with creative direction from Simon Costin, set creator for some of Alexander McQueen’s most spectacular shows.

BBC Radio 1 DJ Danni Diston compered the YT20 showcase in the auditorium, including a specially commissioned performance by young dancers under the guidance of Cornwall-born choreographer Theo Clinkard, and a new Cornish anthem penned by aspiring writers with composer-musician Jim Carey and sung by the Cornwall Youth Choir.

Since 2005, the Young & Talented Cornwall fund has awarded over £600,000 to more than 450 exceptionally talented individuals, helping to break down the financial, social, and physical barriers often faced by Cornwall’s gifted youngsters.

In the largest funding round to date, 57 grant recipients have been awarded over £80,000, to go towards equipment, travel and training expenses. For creative writers and STEM recipients, cash is paired with mentoring support tailored to the individual’s particular focus.

Colonel Sir Edward Bolitho KCVO OBE, Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall said: “For two decades, Young & Talented Cornwall has been proud to help an extraordinary range of young talent thrive, supporting young people in overcoming financial, geographical and social challenges.

“YT20 clearly shows the powerful impact of nurturing young people’s potential - creating lasting benefits for them, for Cornwall, and far beyond. It offers a vision for the future, and I hope it will encourage more young people to believe in themselves and strive for remarkable achievements.”

The next round of Young & Talented Cornwall grants is now open. Applications are welcome across all categories, from sports to performing arts, creative writing to science, technology, engineering and maths. To apply, visit youngandtalentedcornwall.org.