Phoebe Manuel

Hi, I’m Phoebe, and being part of Dare to Dream has been an amazing experience for me. I’ve taken part as a performer. My favourite part has definitely been working with the younger children. It helped me step into more of a leadership role, something I’ve been trying to grow in, and it made me feel more confident about what I can do.

This project has made me feel proud, excited and, most of all, confident. One moment I’ll always remember is how kind everyone is when someone messes up. Instead of feeling embarrassed, you feel supported, and that makes such a big difference. It’s helped me realise that I don’t need to put too much pressure on myself to be brilliant at everything, because we all have different strengths and there is always someone there to help.

Through Dare to Dream, I’ve learned new skills like teamwork, creativity, leadership, and problem-solving, but the biggest thing I’ve learned is self-belief. I feel like I can rely on myself now without doubting every choice I make. It’s also taught me some simple but important things, like how drinking water and even taking off my shoes can help me feel grounded before performing or helping the younger ones.

For me, daring to dream means taking risks instead of choosing the easy route, and opening your mind to endless opportunities. Musical theatre has always given me confidence, even when I was younger, and as I’ve grown up it’s helped me take on challenges and experience things I wouldn’t have otherwise.

My next goal is to work hard and get all 7s and above in my GCSEs. I’ve already been pushing myself to lift up a few predicted grades, and this project has helped me believe I really can do it. I also want people to know how much creative projects like this impact young people. When a mentee shows confidence, the younger children are inspired by it too, which has so many positive knock-on effects.

Sharing my creativity with the community means a lot, because I hope our performances brighten someone’s day and leave them feeling impressed and happy. Take Part is a safe, supportive, welcoming space, and you can feel the care and thought behind everything that happens here.

If I could send one message to the people who made this project possible, it would be:
Thank you Take Part for giving me the opportunity to realise that I know what I’m doing, and for letting me spend more time doing what I love with my friends.