Members of Lancashire-based charity DanceSyndrome are celebrating after winning an award at the Northern Power Women Awards on the first day of Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week!
DanceSyndrome transforms lives, creating change, opportunities and joy for people with and without Down’s syndrome and other learning disabilities, using inclusive dance as a vehicle in a unique, ground-breaking way which doesn’t exist anywhere else. The multi award-winning charity was founded by Jen Blackwell, who has Down’s syndrome, because she found it difficult to find opportunities in community dance that were accessible to people with learning disabilities. DanceSyndrome’s ethos is that disability should never be a barrier to following your dreams. All DanceSyndrome sessions are disability led, with people with learning disabilities taking visible Dance Leader roles to inspire people to see what can be achieved when we all become more inclusive. The charity works across the North West offering weekly inclusive dance workshops, their own accredited leadership training and exceptional performances by the DS Collective performance company at a variety of events, including the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
The inclusive approach of DanceSyndrome was recognised with a nomination in the “Inclusive Innovators” category at the Northern Power Women Awards, an annual awards ceremony that exists to share the stories of amazing role models in and from the North. The awards recognise those who are shifting the dial towards a more gender equal world. Every year, thousands of nominations are made for individuals from across Yorkshire, the North East and the North West. Members of the DanceSyndrome team travelled to Manchester Central Convention Complex on Monday 18th March for the awards ceremony and were thrilled to receive a Commended Award in their category.
Julie Nicholson, Managing Director at DanceSyndrome said “Monday was the first day of the national Down’s Syndrome Awareness Week campaign. This year the campaign is about ending stereotypes about what people with Down’s syndrome can and can’t do. Lots of people will have seen the “Assume I can” video on social media and we proudly support the national campaign every year because we firmly believe that people with learning disabilities can achieve anything that they set their mind to if they are supported to follow their dreams. Our inclusive dance work gives people opportunities to become visible leaders and have their voices heard on issues that are important to them. It’s wonderful to receive recognition like winning a Northern Power Women Award at any time, but it’s extra special to receive it on the first day of a campaign like this. It truly demonstrates that people with learning disabilities can and do make a significant contribution to society and should be celebrated and given a platform at events like this. We’re so proud of our team and their incredible achievements which truly reinforce the “Assume I can” message!”
DanceSyndrome Founder Jen Blackwell said “Being nominated for this award shows that people with learning disabilities can do amazing things with their lives if given a chance. I do have Down’s syndrome but that doesn’t define me. I believe that everybody can dance and do things they love no matter how other people define us.”
To find out more about DanceSyndrome’s inclusive opportunities, visit https://www.dancesyndrome.co.uk
