The Laura Sadler Memorial Fund was established following the untimely and tragic accident involving Laura in 2003.
Laura was lucky enough to receive a scholarship to the Sylvia Young Theatre School, which together with her own talent and personality, helped her to achieve her ambitions. She appeared at the National Theatre, Theatre Royal, Windsor, Soho Theatre and the Royal Court. She also appeared in numerous television commercials and productions, including Grange Hill, The Belfry Witches, Anchor Me and, of course, as Sandy Harper in Holby City.
Sonya, her mother, and her friends wanted to set up a memorial that would provide practical and financial support to give young actors and actresses the opportunity to realise their dreams, as Laura had.
Patron of the Fund
Les Dennis, who worked with Laura on Intimate Relations in 1995, is the Patron of the Fund.
Les Dennis with fellow auctioneer Jeremy Edwards at Laura’s Butterfly Ball, October 2006
Who are the Trustees?
Laura’s mother, Sonya, with close friends and colleagues, are the Trustees of the Fund.
Steve Clarkson
Dinah Garrett
Russ Godliman
Laura Hammett
Tina Hobley
Sonya Sadler
Additionally they include other friends and relations in the committees set up to organise special events, such as Laura’s Butterfly Ball and The Butterfly Walk.
What is it all for?
The aim of the Fund is to provide practical and financial support to give young actors and actresses the opportunity to realise their dreams. It is really making a difference for those selected. Some of those students being helped now are making their professional stage debut in The Sound of Music.
‘Thank you for helping me continue on this journey and letting me be part of something that keeps me alive, so please accept my sincere thank yous, because you’ll never know how much you and your fund has helped me. I feel honoured.’ says Sophie Stone, who is the first deaf student studying at RADA, whom the Fund is now helping for a second year with her special needs for signing and note-taking.
Sophie was able to attend the second Butterfly Ball and wrote afterwards to Sonya ‘it was an amazing feeling to feel part of your appeal and how much work you go to, to ensure people like myself can achieve the same dreams as your daughter and her achievements.’
As the work of the Fund becomes better known, it is receiving more requests for help. It has been able to make several more awards for 2007, now that it is consolidating its core funding.
Applications can be made at any time of the year to the Trustees from a young aspiring actors who are attending drama schools.
Please mailto:info@laurasadlerfund.org.uk if you would like more information about any of the events, or would like to help us in other ways. Let us know if you would like to be put on our mailing list.
The Trustees would like to thank you for your generosity.
