Ann Maguire: Memorial fund for Leeds teacher is touching lives

Now, two years to the day since Leeds teacher Ann Maguire was murdered a fund set up in her memory is helping promising children achieve their dreams.

The Ann Maguire Arts Educational Fund was set up in May 2014 in memory of the teacher who dedicated her life to supporting children.

The fund, is managed by the Leeds Community Foundation, and provides bursaries and funding for the ‘enhancement and personal development of young people under 18 years old through music, drama, language and dance’- all subjects that were close to Ann’s heart.

Max Cookward says he would never have achieved his dream of training with the world famous Rambert Ballet if it hadn’t been for the fund set up in Ann’s name.

“I needed some extra training before I applied to the Rambert,” says the talented dancer. “We applied to the Ann Maguire Arts Educational Fund to help us and we were successful. It made me realise that what I really wanted to do was to study ballet and contemporary dance. I don’t think I would have got my place if I hadn’t had the support of the Maguire family.”

Her family set up the fund in her memory as she was a keen supporter of the arts and of the development of young people. One of her daughter’s Emma is a dancer with the Royal Ballet.

Max, 16, from Chapel Allerton is one of the young people to receive up to £500 from the fund.

“We were all so touched by Ann Maguire’s death even though we didn’t know her,” says Max. “I just felt some connection with the family, with Emma being a ballet dancer. It meant so much to me to have their support and to think that out of such a tragedy something so positive can come and made a difference for so many people.”

Max is currently doing his GCSEs at Rosset School in Harrogate.