People Involved: Andrew Coggins

Partners: Dance United

URLs related to this project: www.dance-united.com/

Where is the need for this project?

Young offenders lack self-confidence and self-discipline and there is a shortage of really high-quality programmes to give them opportunities to develop and express themselves.

Where do you hope this project can go?

This award-winning organisation provides dance-based alternative education programmes young offenders on day release and serving community sentences. Their award-winning work uses highly challenging professional training methods in full-time, twelve-week programmes to build self-confidence and discipline. Dance United combine artistic excellence with great social outcomes. Their recent Destino show in partnership with the prestigious Sadler’s Wells theatre drew rave reviews. Meanwhile, their work makes a real difference. Initial academic research suggests the Academy is “far more successful at reducing recidivism than the generality of community-based programmes for young offenders”. The next step for the Academy is to replicate the programme beyond Bradford, with active interest expressed by consortia in Wessex, Leeds and London.