
2022 has been an incredible year for DanceSyndrome! We are grateful for a year free of the Covid restrictions which so heavily impacted our services in the previous two years.
We have been able to restart both our Accrington and Chorley Everybody Dance face to face workshops, in addition to Preston and Clitheroe. We have recently appointed a Community Outreach Manager to help build demand for sessions in other areas of Lancashire with an aim of opening two more face to face sessions in 2023.
We have successfully applied to become an Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation 2023-2026 and we have secured a National Lottery Community Fund grant for three years, meaning that we can continue to grow our team and drive forward our strategy.
We have been able to grow our partnership working, testing a social franchising model with a major National Learning Disability partner organisation, and working with several NHS trusts in particular Lancashire & South Cumbria Foundation Trust and NHS England. One key project we delivered was the creation of a series of videos demonstrating the many ways that people with learning disabilities can live fulfilled lives, contributing to society and becoming visible leaders, performers, and advocates. We have also established a working relationship with Community Rail and worked in collaboration with other organisations such as the Down Syndrome Association, Together Dance, and Arts Lancashire.
We’ve had some incredible performance opportunities at events like The Small Awards in London and we have loved our regular Train Station Takeovers across Greater Manchester and Blackpool with more Station Takeovers booked in for 2023. Being visible in the heart of communities, meeting the public and getting them dancing is what we love to do the most!
We also enjoyed an amazing TV appearance alongside professional dancer Giovanni Pernice on Steph’s Packed Lunch, as well as other high-profile TV recognition: Vick Hope’s Breakfast Show and BBC 1’s My Life at Christmas with Sally Phillips where Jen posed a question to Shirley Ballas, Head Judge from Strictly Come Dancing and Presenter and Comedian, Sally Philips gave high praise for DanceSyndrome.
We’ve celebrated some award successes too. Founders Jen and Sue Blackwell won the Charity Champion Award at the National Best Business Women Awards, and our Artistic Director Sophie Tickle received a Chief Nurses Award from The Department for Health and Social Care.
We’ve ended the year with a very successful Christmas Challenge fundraising campaign, which secured £10,000 in donation to support us to take our dancers to perform at the 2023 Edinburgh Fringe. We are so grateful to everyone who supported this campaign.
Throughout 2022, your continued support as a partner, supporter, friend has enabled DanceSyndrome to maintain our services and make a significant impact on the lives of people with learning disabilities.
We have a lot to look forward to in 2023 and we look forward to you continuing his journey with us. On Sunday, 5th February 2023, we are celebrating our 10th Birthday of becoming a charity with a showcase of our work performed at the Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays. If you haven’t already bought a ticket, and you would like to join, there are a few remaining tickets still available here – Tickets to X:Ten
As a small charity, we continuously need to secure grants and to fundraise to ensure we can continue to operate and to create the impact we do. This is an on-going challenge.
If you would like to support our work in 2023, please consider making a one off or regular donation using the form below or via Just Giving.
THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts for your continued support for which we are forever grateful.
We wish you all the best for a happy and safe festive season.
From everyone in the DanceSyndrome Family