Staffordshire County Council’s ‘Aiming High for disabled children and their families’ decided to extend the funding we received in the previous year to September 2011. They have once again been extremely successful!

Every Saturday morning during term time, we provided engaging and enjoyable arts activities to a wide range of disabilities, ages and ability levels at Walton Hall Special School, Ecceshall & Blackfriars Special School, Newcastle-under-Lyme.

Both venues were a great support throughout the project. We offered music, music technology, digital media, film, photography, dance, drama, singing, ‘rock band’, visual art, pottery and crafts workshops all of which were rotated each week to ensure a variety of activities were offered and skills were gained.

We employed 16 members of staff each Saturday and regularly engaged 30 young people.

New friendships have been formed between the participants and both the participants and artists have learnt from each other.  Individual learning journals reminded the children weekly what they had achieved, felt about the activities, and will serve as a record of their achievements for the future. Photos were included as were painting, drawing and words. 

Parents have praised FRONTLINEdance for the provision and quality of the Arts Hub, which we think speaks volumes. In terms of the participants gaining out of the experience they have had. We believe we have exceeded all what we had hoped for and more. Both the hub and its entire staff have been valued greatly.

The hubs concluded in September 2011 with a performance sharing and a celebration event. Certificates were given and received with pride and happiness.

“Here my son can join and nobody judges him. It’s a rare place to find”

“My daughter loves dancing and it’s good for her to keep active. Nobody gets left behind here. She generally feels isolated and doesn’t make friends easily, but here she has friends. It’s something she looks forward to”