Ashley

Hello everyone, I am a 14 year old boy.

My name is ”Ashley”, but most of you may know me as ”Ashley Palipana (BCyA)”.

I am the host for Thurrock Festival.

Firstly, it is such a pleasure to be the host of Thurrock Festival 2020.

I have a passion for presenting, cooking, baking, singing, dancing, creative art, design, craft, portrait art, drawing, painting, science and drama. I love making YouTube videos/blogs by sharing my knowledge with others of what I do in my spare time. I am a national fundraiser with my own art gallery which is known as, Ashley Palipana Art Gallery and Ashley Palipana Academy of Portrait Arts which I am the CEO for both. I am an active member of youth cabinet, St John’s Ambulance cadets and Youth Opera Company member in the Royal Opera House which is in Covent Garden.

I have also appeared on the TV numerous times. A few of the programmes I have appeared on include: CBBC’s the Dengineers, Horrible Histories Gory Games on CBBC, Britain’s got talent on ITV, Operation Ouch! on CBBC, Good Morning Britain on ITV and Stage Box Disney channel.

I have been on The hit West End musical Lion King in Central London!!!

I was the first prize winner of the Kinetika art competition in 2015 and was the youngest artist who has displayed art in the Thurrock Art Trail.

From the age of 6 I have been involved in various charity fundraising events, with my own creative canvas art exhibitions from which I have raised funds for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital Charity and other numerous charities too. In 2016, I have also been recognised by my St John’s Ambulance badger group, receiving a Badger of the year Award for bravery in 2015 for coming to the aid of a suicidal man in his home town. For doing this, I was awarded with a trip to Buckingham Palace where I met Princess Anne to receive my award as well as having afternoon tea too. In the same year, I won another award called the British Citizen youth award for my bravery as well as fundraising which has grown massively in years. To receive this award, I went to the House of Lords with my family to receive this award from Kimberly Wyatt.

A fun fact about me is that I have two goldfish called Salt and Pepper.

My dream is to become a neurological brain surgeon at Great Ormond Street children’s hospital to help save lots of lives.

Thank you all. Ashley Palipana BCyA