Thriving Kirklees Seed Funding Case Study: Family Dance
Using grant funding from the Thriving Kirklees Seed Fund, BBEST Community Hub CIC were able to run Family Dance sessions which consisted of a 6 week course of dance classes with 2 age-appropriate sessions running each week.
What did you do?
The first session aimed at children aged 6-18 months focused on sensory development, parent and child relationships, song and rhyme, music, rhythm and timing. This was achieved through a variety of floor based activities lead by the instructor with the parent and child working together. The second class aimed at the 18 month + age group helped children to develop fine and gross motor skills, posture, co-ordination, strength, agility and balance. Children demonstrated body control and awareness, enhancing their listening and turn taking skills. Children developed the ability to follow instruction and their imagination and expression. Children formed new friendships and worked well together in a new setting. This was achieved again by instructor lead activities incorporating a number of props such as scarves, rain makers, and sleigh bells. The children in this group worked more independently with their parents/carers supporting them. Parents were able to chat over refreshments and commented how nice it was to be able to do so following restrictions. Adults in the group developed new skills and felt increased confidence to be able to replicate these kinds of activities at home with their children. Each family received a bag of fruit and vegetables with options varying each week, the children were thrilled to receive these and parents commented how their diets had expanded by trying new and unusual varieties of healthy foods.
What went well? What would you change?
The sessions have gone incredibly well considering the added pressures of making everyone feel safe during covid restrictions. The original plan to serve a hot meal was tweaked and instead of eating together the families took home with them a generous portion of fruit and vegetables. All families commented that this was a great idea and that the complimentary food had made a positive impact on the whole family and not just the attendees. For future sessions we would like to increase uptake from the younger babies below 18 months – from feedback from the group those with this age of child were still feeling hesitant to join new groups and try new activities.
You can watch their feedback video here https://youtu.be/41zspSGqUA4
Apply for the Thriving Kirklees Seed Fund
Thriving Kirklees, in partnership with Third Sector Leaders Kirklees, has opened its latest Seed Fund round of grants available to community groups working on projects in Kirklees.
Groups can bid for support ranging from a few hundred pounds up to a maximum of £4000 for projects and programmes supporting children, young people and families.
Find out more about the Seed Fund below. Applications are being accepted up to 20th September 2021.