Kathy White -Webster - Head of Drama and Dance, Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham

I am writing to you to let you know the significance of CPR in my life and at my school , Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham ,Northumberland. As Head of Drama and Dance I see that it is my responsibility to ensure that the teachers in my department have access to the best International practitioners in Theatre, Dance, Singing and Voice. CPR I know can ,will and has for the last few years provided the best training and access to innovative practioners for me and my staff.

It is through my attendance at the workshops of CPR that I became inspired to teach Voice. I am still using methods learned there. As a result students I teach gain access to National Youth Theatre and over the years they have gone on to study Theatre at Central School of Speech and Drama and other top Drama Colleges and Universities. You will see on the website for QEHS that Ofsted described the work of the school as 'Outstanding'. This high standard has come about in Drama primarily due to the quality of my training over a number of years at CPR. The practitioners were top quality and inspirational.

I valued the efficient organisation of the course and the genuine care and concern that all of the staff showed to me and to others. I am so convinced of the value of this organisation that I have recommended that my son who has just completed an MA in Classical Acting with a Distinction at Central School of Speech and Drama should attend the Voice conference this year. In addition I encouraged a friend who is interested in running workshops on Voice to also attend the conference. If It was practically possible I too would be there. Each time I have been on a Voice course I know that my sense of my own creativity and the expression of my own authentic voice is deepened and strengthened. I am currently doing a part time MA in Mindfulness at Bangor University and in my 3rd year. I intend to use the learning from the MA with my voice expertise to help people in a clinical setting. It is therefore essential for me to refresh my learning and CPR is my first choice for that training. I trust and respect the organisers ,the ethos and the integrity of CPR with my health and well being in a professional setting.

Richard Gough actually mentored me and teachers across the curriculum from QEHS in the beginning planning stages of an innovative creative conference, all of the staff instantly connected to Richard and to his proposals and questions.

This is a letter of strong support for the essential service that CPR gives to organisations who are searching to teach young people to the best of their ability. I am shocked that funding will be taken away from CPR. Please contact me if you need to speak to me about the above.

Kathy White -Webster.
Head of Drama and Dance
Queen Elizabeth High School in Hexham, Northumberland