New dance class, to keep seniors in step
Ketley residents attending a community event this weekend, were delighted with the quick actions of staff to establish a new dance session on the day.
The Safer and Stronger Communities roadshows have been visiting areas across Telford & Wrekin, asking people how they would like to make positive changes - particularly around safety and new social groups.
Around 40 residents visited the Ketley Community Centre on Saturday (March 5) and raised issues with a local neighbourhood coordinator including speeding, the need for more measures to help improve road safety and a request was also made for more activities allowing senior people to socialise, following the pandemic.
Following a grant application to the Safer and Stronger communities’ project with further support from Age UK Shropshire Telford & Wrekin, a new dance class is on course to start on Friday, May 20 with help from an experienced resident, Vincent Haden and his partner Jean Bates volunteering their time to support the sessions.
Volunteer Vincent Haden said: “The dance floors have been empty for too long because of the pandemic and it’s time we started to fill them back up again which is why I came along to the Safer and Stronger communities event.
“I’ve plenty of experience with dances and wanted to use that it to give something back to the community, I am not an instructor so people shouldn’t expect a lesson but they can come along and learn some simple steps and have an evening out listening to music and spending time with friends.”
Cabinet Member for Safer and Stronger Communities, Councillor Paul Watling said: “We’re delighted to have seen a request such as this come to the event and it really does make the roadshows worthwhile.
“We’ve been able to connect people with the organisations to help them achieve good things for themselves and others around them, ultimately building stronger communities and bringing people together.
“I’d encourage everyone to pop into these events which are being held across Telford, whatever your idea is, if it will help bring about positive changes and enhance people’s lives we’d love to hear about them and see if we or any of our partners can help make it a reality.”
The joint project will see Telford & Wrekin Council contribute £2m and an additional £500k from the Police and Crime Commissioner, John Campion to support the project, to be spent over the next two years in a number of areas across Telford.
Services supporting the event included Job Box which has helped people take their first steps back into employment, signed people up for distance learning opportunities, provided support with CVs and made referrals to help people find new jobs.
The next event will be held on April 2 at Stirchley's Sambrook Centre between 11am and 2pm.
For more information visit www.Telford.gov.uk/saferstronger
