News Shopper embarked on a campaign last year to help Magpie Dance raise vital funds for its dance classes helping people with learning disabilities. SCOTT MULLINS finds out how the charity is coping 12 months on and what the future holds.
Magpie Dance needs £250,000 every single year to keep touching the lives of youngsters and adults with learning disabilities.
Your favourite local paper launched its Help Magpie Fly campaign in February last year to help the charity raise £100,000 so it could continue to welcome ambitious dancers from all corners of south-east London and north Kent, including Bromley, Lewisham, Eltham, Sidcup and Dartford.
Magpie Dance, based at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley, already helps more than 150 keen dancers each year - even though it receives no regular funding.
However, impressed by the obvious commitment, hard work and creativity of the charity’s staff, volunteers and dancers, Bromley Council has just agreed to hand over more than £10,000 to fund a brand new Adult Open Community dance class at the Beckenham Spa leisure centre for a year.
The charity was founded by Avril Hitman who recognised how the art of dance could raise self esteem and confidence.
She said: “At Magpie Dance we focus on ability not disability.
“News Shopper’s campaign really helped to raise Magpie’s profile and awareness of what we do in the local community.
“It showed who we are working with and how we provide opportunities for people with learning disabilities to actively develop their communication skills, fitness levels, dance skills and a healthy lifestyle."
She added: “Several local organisations raised funds for us and local people have offered their time as volunteers.”
Eastenders actress Kellie Shirley became a charity patron during the Help Magpie Fly campaign and generous cheques from readers flooded the News Shopper offices.
Local dance schools, supermarkets and other charities also donated to the campaign.
Funding development manager Jo Easingwood said: “Magpie Dance is a charity with its roots at the heart of the community.
“We could not do what we do without the support of committed local people, of all ages.”
For more details on how you can help the charity, visit magpiedance.org.uk
Swimming and dancing
Russell Cartwright, 33, hoped to raise £1,270 for Magpie Dance by swimming around the country’s coastline once a month during 2010.
The money would pay for one member of Magpie’s youth group for a year.
However, the Dartford resident has already beaten his target and is now hoping his sponsorship money will fund two youth group members.
News Shopper’s intrepid reporter Dan Keel joined Russell during his latest swim in Brighton.
Meanwhile, the whole Magpie company, including youngsters and adults, will be performing together for the first time during the national Big Dance event being held at the Churchill Theatre in July.
Three programmes
Collaborating with professional artists, Magpie has developed three programmes for people with learning disabilities.
Its weekly classes are normally fully booked with lengthy waiting lists.
Its Youth Group sessions enable young people aged between 14 and 25, with and without learning disabilities, to explore creative movement and arts in a supportive and stimulating atmosphere.
Several of the eight members of the charity’s Adult Performance Group have been together since Magpie was conceived and meet weekly.
The over subscribed Open Community sessions for adults welcome 30 people each week to the Crofton Halls in Orpington and the Pavilion Leisure Centre in Bromley.
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