‘Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing’ wins funding to deliver new and creative learning opportunities in London

The Royal Academy of Dance’s ‘Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing’ project has secured funding of £49,979.00 from the Skills Funding Agency as part of the new Community Learning Innovation Fund, to work with adult learners in the community and improve their health and wellbeing through dance.

The Community Learning Innovation Fund, from the Skills Funding Agency and managed by NIACE, will contribute to the Government’s objectives for community learning. The Fund will deliver new and creative learning opportunities, particularly for disadvantaged people to support social and economic wellbeing, digital inclusion and stronger families and communities.

The four-stage project will improve access to high quality dance teaching for older learners with the aim of enhancing health and general wellbeing and promoting social inclusion. The project will include initial teacher training, outreach work, project evaluation and dissemination over a period of ten months and will provide six specialist dance teachers able to lead the development of adult dance practice in the London area. Dr Anne Hogan, Director of Education at the Royal Academy of Dance, is confident that “The project will increase opportunities for adults in later life to participate in life-enhancing movement and exercise.”

Verity Hancock, Skills Funding Agency Executive Director, Capacity and Infrastructure, said, “The response to the new Community Learning Innovation Fund has been phenomenal and the Skills Funding Agency is pleased to be able to support these innovative projects that meet the needs of local people. By making it easier for disadvantaged people to learn new skills and access training and support, they gain new opportunities to improve their lives, building stronger families and communities in the process.”

Carol Taylor, Deputy Chief Executive of NIACE, added:
“NIACE is proud to have the role of supporting the Skills Funding Agency in managing the Community Learning Innovation Fund. The response has been staggering - we received over 2200 bids. Deciding which of the projects should receive funding has been incredibly tough, however this means that the very best projects will be starting work soon and transforming the lives of local people and local communities.”

For further information about this project please contact Dr Victoria Watts (Project Manager), 020 7326 8068, vwatts@rad.org.uk, www.radeducation.org

  Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing teacher recruitment (187 KB)

  Dance for Lifelong Wellbeing person specification (98 KB)