Summary
Indepen-dance delivered 5 x 1 hour weekly creative movement classes for disabled children and young people over a period of 40 weeks in Glasgow, East Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire.
What A programme of Weekly Creative Movement Classes did
Weekly Classes
Indepen-dance delivered 5 weekly creative movement sessions to disabled young people and children, aged 5-20, over a period of 40 weeks at the following times
Glasgow class - Tuesday 5.30 - 6.30
Wishaw class- Tuesday 5.30 - 6.30
Cumbernauld class - Thursday 6-7
Kilmarnock class - Saturday 10.30 - 11.30
Clydebank class - Saturday 11-12
Where possible all sessions were delivered by an inclusive team, one disabled and one non-disabled staff member. Classes led participants through a safe warm up, creative movement tasks, sharing opportunities and a cool down.
Some parents and carers participate in class and others don’t, this is generally discussed between the tutor and the parent/carer on a person by person basis. Those who do not participate in the sessions often sit outside the class and spend an hour socialising with other parents and offering informal support for one another.
Across all of the classes attendance has remained consistent during the funding period. Unfortunately accessible and affordable venues continue to be a barrier for the classes. In the past year the Clydebank class trialled two new venues and has successfully transitioned into a more suitable spaces. We are still working hard to continue to recruit participants through our marketing strategies, communication with local schools and delivering sessions in schools across the five Local Authorities which classes are provided in.
What Indepen-dance has learned
Our main learn over the past year of delivering weekly creative movement sessions is the need for more robust monitoring and evaluation methods. As I have mentioned previously we are already in the process of improving this aspect of our work through our training with Evaluation Support Scotland.
Further we have benefited from finding new ways to fundraise for specific projects in recruiting our Young 1’z members and their families to raise funds for the trip to Cullera, Spain which they took part in last year. We had been unsuccessful in securing funding for this aspect of our programme but the members and their parents managed to raise over £4000 towards the trip. This was co-ordinated by our passionate dance tutors who work with the group and is testament to the strength of the relationships which we have with our young people and their families.
Finally we have explored new ways of marketing to recruit new participants to our youth classes using feedback from our current participants to show the benefits which young people and their parents/carers can expect from participation in our classes.
How Indepen-dance has benefitted from the funding
We have benefitted from working with an international choreographer, Casson and Friends, who commented on the strengths and abilities of the participants in the residency group. This endorsement shows the artistic integrity and dance ability of our young dancers, which is made possible through the dedication of their tutors. This has not only strengthened our international reputation but also created a new link with an artist/practitioner working in the same field in another part of the UK.
In the weekly classes we have been able to provide reliable and uninterrupted weekly sessions. The consistency which this allows provides greater development for the young people who take part and it instils confidence in their parents and carers that Indepen-dance is an organisation which they can rely on.
Project Outcomes
Outcome
75 disabled children and young people and their parents and carers will report that they are feeling more confident and less stressed as a result of attending our planned short break activities.
Results
Across the five weekly creative movement sessions, 69 disabled young people took part in the sessions, parents, carers and participants all report increased or sustained levels of confidence, improved fitness levels and a feeling of well being.
Case study
“I have seen group members grow in confidence in dance moves and in their ability to express themselves” (Glasgow Parent)
In our Glasgow class one participant has shown growth in confidence in both dancing and socialising which has resulted in her moving into the Young 1’z performance group. She had previously struggled with meeting new people and sustained participation in the weekly classes has developed her confidence to the point that she was able to transition successfully into another group. Participation in the weekly class has given her the confidence and the skills to not only meet new people but to continue to grow and develop as a dancer.
Outcome
75 disabled children and young people and their parents and carers will have improved wellbeing as a result of participating in our short break activity.
Results
Across the five weekly creative movement sessions, 69 disabled young people took part in the sessions, parents, carers and participants all report increased or sustained levels of confidence, improved fitness levels and a feeling of well being.
Case study
“All the kids get so much from the class, their confidence and sense of wellbeing have really improved” (Kilmarnock class parent). In the Kilmarnock class, where the parents choose to join in, a real sense of community has developed. The parents in this class even meet up outside of the class, an example of this was at Christmas when they went for a group meal with the tutor and class assistant. This shows the strength of the relationships which have formed and the increased opportunities to socialise for the young people and those who support them.
Outcome
Parents and Carers of young disabled people will report having experienced more opportunities to enjoy a life outside of their caring role when their son/daughter attends the weekly creative movement classes.
Results
Parents and carers whose young people attended the weekly creative movement sessions experience opportunities to enjoy life outside of their caring role in two ways:
1. Receiving an hour of respite to use as they wish
2. Taking part in a creative activity with their child/young person which they also benefit from
The grant did not support the young people who participated in the week long residency, which gave the parents a longer sustained break. The parents fund raised with Indepen-dance staff to raise the funding to enable the young disabled people to attend an active sport and dance residency in Spain.
Case study
“have a blether, a wee natter, a wee bit of time to do nothing” (Cumbernauld parent) This parent at first felt the need to stay outside the class and socialise with the other parents, she openly admits that she benefitted from this opportunity. In the last year she has however felt confident enough to leave her young person and use the hour how she sees fit, whether that’s going shopping or meeting with a friend.
Outcome
Parents and Carers of disabled children and young people report that they feel better supported to sustain their caring role.
Results
Parents and carers have created informal support networks through their young people and children attending the classes. They also comment on the abilities of the Indepen-dance tutors to deliver safe and appropriate activities which fill them with confidence. They are able to see how their young person is developing through dance and know that Indepen-dance will support them to do so.
Case study
“As a childcare practitioner I like the teacher/pupil interaction that I witness. I love how the children respond to the teachers activities and music. [Participant] thoroughly enjoys the class and is challenged to move out of her comfort zone.” (parent)
The young person this report is referring to was very reluctant to participate when she first joined Indepen-dance. In the past year she has engaged with the entire hour long class fully and even developed as a role model in the class for other young dancers. Her parent feels confident knowing that she will engage in Indepen-dance sessions and it will be appropriate and beneficial for her development. They are also able to discuss aspects of their caring roles with the other parents in attendance at the class.