INSPIRING student Jessie Cooper has cerebral palsy that affects his hands and legs. When he started at City College Brighton and Hove, he was only able to walk with crutches and missed a lot of school.

Jessie took on a diploma in acting training, despite his mobility and balance issues and the fact he wasn’t physically able to write.

But he kept pushing himself and by the end of his first year he took a very full role in Steven Berkoff’s The Trial – full-on physical theatre based on developing and using mime skills. Jessie shone in this role and received distinctions both for his performance and also for his movement.

Jessie said: “It feels amazing.

“It’s really wonderful to win and I’m just over the moon.”

Confident actor Jessie was uncharacteristically nervous on stage, but there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when he composed himself to thank everybody for their support.

Jessie added: “It was a really cool feeling to know that I’ve been recognised for all the work I’ve put in to just doing something I love on a daily basis. Hopefully I’ll get into university and keep acting because that’s what I really want to do with my life.”

SPONSORED BY SARAH HOPWOOD

Winner: Jessie Cooper