Your votes can help Para Dance UK successfully grow more dance classes in the UK with National Lottery Funding.
The project is called Dance 4 All and it aims to get people interested in starting new classes in communities so more disabled people can access dance. Now, with your help, the project can be fulfilled with £50,000 of National Lottery funding as part of this year’s People’s Projects. Dance 4 All, run by Para Dance UK, is one of five projects in London going for a share of £150,000.
Now in its 13th year, the Big Lottery Fund, ITV and The National Lottery are teaming up to give the public a chance to decide how National Lottery funding should be put to good use in their local area.
Designed to celebrate some of the incredible projects the Big Lottery Fund has supported over the past year, 95 community-based schemes are now shortlisted across the UK. In each region, the three with the most public votes will receive grants of up to £50,000. This will help them to continue their work to improve local people’s lives. The entire amount up for grabs across the UK is a life-changing £3 million.
On Wednesday 18th April, the Dance 4 All project film will be shown on ITV London News at 6pm. To help us win this fantastic opportunity, Para Dance UK are calling on you to vote for them! Voting opens Monday 16th April at 9am on www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk.
If successful, the funding will go towards helping people start inclusive dance groups to new areas of the UK, with the aim of getting more disabled people active through dance. Disabled people have benefitted through dance for many years and it is Para Dance UK’s aim to reach more people. Dance not only leads to an active lifestyle for your body but a healthy mind too, music and movement relieves stress and tension. All of our dance groups meet regularly and are often seen as small families, this is a chance for disabled people to meet new people and make lifelong friendships.
Iain Richards, Marketing & Media Officer at Para Dance UK, said: “This is an exciting opportunity to raise awareness and support for our work and, with your help, to secure further much-needed funding. We urge local people to get behind us. If successful, our project will make a real difference to local communities by providing an opportunity for an active lifestyle aimed at disabled people.”
Joe Ferns, UK Funding Director of the Big Lottery Fund, said: “As the largest funder of community activity in the UK, we are proud to support grassroots groups that are using the vision, determination and drive of local people to strengthen communities. The People’s Projects showcases the best of these and is a chance for you to have your say on how National Lottery funding can benefit your local community.”
Since 2005, around £39 million has been awarded through the Big Lottery Fund, National Lottery and ITV/STV partnership to 865 Good Causes across the UK.
Voting closes at midday on Monday 30 April 2018. People can vote once per region and will need an email address to vote. To support the Dance 4 All project and for Ts & Cs please visit www.thepeoplesprojects.org.uk