Lambeth’s ChangingLives Fund Helps Over 60s Movement and CommunityDance Project to Keep on Movin’!
Brixton social enterprise Unbound Moving Arts CIC is delighted to announce that its outreach project for older people ‘The Rhythms Club’ has received funding from the Lambeth Council Changing Lives Fund.
Brixton social enterprise Unbound Moving Arts CIC is delighted to announce that its outreach project for older people ‘The Rhythms Club’ has received funding from the Lambeth Council Changing Lives Fund.
In the heart of Brixton, in partnership with AgeUK Lambeth at the MySocial Community hub, ‘The Rhythms Club’ project focuses on addressing health and wellbeing for older people attracting a broad demographic of participants from diverse ethnic backgrounds. The average age excluding carers is over 70.
Through these 5Rhythms classes the project creates an environment which seeks to enhance the quality of life for older people through accessible and enjoyable movement and dance. There are no specific steps to follow, instead free movement cultivates personal creativity and expression while also building muscle mass and improving joint mobility. In addition the classes provide invaluable benefits of social connection, which the facilitator cultivates further through a “sharing circle” at the end of each class. In short, it's great exercise and a wonderful way to make new friends.
Since the project launched in pilot form at the end of 2022 the project has grown increasingly popular with a diverse group of elders from around Lambeth with recent sessions at full capacity.
5Rhythms teacher and project founder Nikki Ashley said:
“This Lambeth changing lives fund has been instrumental in keeping our dancers moving - being on the front line delivering this class I get to see clearly every session how the participants change from when they arrive to how they leave - Overtime, I have witnessed participants growing in confidence and reporting moving in ways they didn't think they could.
Often participants will report a physical change, such as improved mobility, or less pain and they also reflect on their emotional well being, expressing feeling safe and relaxed, a sense of belonging and a sense of self appreciation, as well as appreciation for the group.This Rhythms Club really is changing lives and how appropriate this fund feels in contributing towards that!”
Joint Executive Director of Unbound Moving Arts Rich Wiltshire said:
“We are very grateful for the support of Lambeth Council’s Changing Lives Fund which has helped change so many older people’s lives for the better in 2023. The Rhythms Club has become our flagship reach out project.”
One long term project participant said:
“I look forward to coming to these sessions, it brings me out of my flat where I live alone, and meeting other people in this way is my greatest joy!”
Paul Coles, Chief executive of Age UK Lambeth said:
“We've been delighted to host the Rhythms Club at the Vida Walsh Centre and are very pleased to hear that its funding is secured...It has been one of our most popular activities on the MySocial calendar and we are looking forward to partnering again through 2024."
Notes:
The Changing Lives grant money supports the Rhythms Club from June to the end of 2023... Unbound Moving Arts will be seeking more funding to significantly expand the project into a bigger venue in 2024.
The Rhythms Club currently takes place every Thursday at the Vida Walsh Centre at 2.00pm.