Grace McManus

I’m Grace, I’m 15 and currently in Year 11 and getting ready to take my GCSEs next summer. On Saturdays I work with the Front of House team at Take Part on the front desk welcoming families and visitors to our theatrical experience sessions. It’s a role that’s helped me build confidence, communication skills, and real customer service experience, and it’s also taught me a lot about myself.

When I started, I was nervous about talking to new people but I’ve learned how much a smile and a warm welcome can mean. I’ve developed my ability to listen carefully, use positive body language, and build good relationships — even when things get busy. Being on the front desk has shown me how to make a great first impression and how small acts of kindness can make someone’s day.

Through my menteeship at Take Part, I’ve been learning key customer service skills, including:

• Communication and empathy – using body language, listening, and asking questions to understand people’s needs.
• Problem-solving – staying calm, thinking clearly, and finding positive ways to help when issues come up.
• Professionalism and teamwork – following Take Part’s values, supporting others, and treating everyone with fairness and respect.
• Confidence in feedback – learning how to respond to comments from visitors and act on feedback constructively.

My favourite part of being a mentee was seeing how the performances and all the behind-the-scenes roles come together. Watching everyone’s creativity and confidence grow has made me proud to be part of something that brings people together. One of my favourite memories is watching the amazing musical theatre numbers and realising how special it feels to help make community events happen.

To me, “daring to dream” means stepping outside your comfort zone and believing that you can do something new. Working at Take Part has helped me find my confidence, develop real-life skills I can use anywhere, and see how creativity and kindness can make a difference.

After my GCSEs, I hope to go to college to study Biology and English and I know the communication, empathy, and problem-solving skills I’ve learned at Take Part will help me in any path I take.

If I had to describe how Take Part has made me feel in one word, it would be confident — because this whole experience has helped me believe in myself and the person I’m becoming.