STAYING CONNECTED
Supporting our members through Covid-19 and beyond


Our team of freelance artists worked hard to adapt their teaching, content and delivery to work from home, enabling us to our continue our community classes programme for our members to attend classes online. With thanks to Together Active (formerly Sport Across Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent) who funded us via the Sport England & National Lottery Tackling Inequalities Fund, we were able to sustain our community class programme online and make the gradual transition for groups to resume in-person. Funding from the National Lottery Local Connections Fund has also enabled us to provide additional in-person groups for older adults. A grant from the Prime Foundation enabled us to take time during the pandemic to train further, particularly focussing on our work with older adults in the community. 

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Attending live dance sessions with Mika helps me not just on a physical level to keep my body moving but on a mental level as well! Especially now during lockdown times when we all feel isolated. The thought of my Monday dance live with Mika and crew is making positive changes to my wellbeing. I'm learning something new too. I'm so glad that we can continue our fitness dance during these uncertain times! Thank you.

'E', age 42, member of Brazilian Dance Fitness class

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​I find the online classes particularly beneficial for me regarding flexibility and pain. I have arthritis in my knees and ankles particularly and I'm currently walking without a limp. Also I have back problems from 3 hairline cracks in my back and the yoga has really helped with that... It also helps with my stress levels immensely.

'C', age 55, member of Yoga class​

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These online [drumming] classes are an oasis in my week. Mika is an exceptional teacher and the classes are accessible to all and contain challenges for every level. The teaching is thorough and encouraging, scaffolded from simple to challenging with resources including written notation and videos of each stage of learning, historical and social context alongside fun games to develop independence during play. I look forward to Thursday evenings. Thank you.

'T', age 63, member of Congas Study Group

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​It has united myself and my daughter via doing the class together giving us structure to our day. For her with delicate mental health it has given her a focus and a sense of achievement plus complimented her other weekly fitness classes.

'C', age 54, member of Low Impact Brazilian Dance class

 

I honestly can't imagine how I would have got through this time mentally without the online classes. It makes such a huge difference to have the continuation of something from normal life, to also be progressing and developing in some way in this time of stasis, plus it has enabled me to keep physically fit - due to caring restrictions, the classes are the only exercise I have been able to do during this time.

'K', age 41, member of Capoeira group

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