Care to Dance: Recent Episodes
Beth
Care to Dance is a social enterprise that supports care experienced young people through dance. Our mission is to pioneer new ways of using dance to improve the wellbeing of young people in care. We provide them with a safe space to express themselves in an understanding and caring environment that is focused on developing confidence through dance.Inclusion Lead, Cicero, hosts a podcast series, where he discusses the importance of supporting young people.
"Care to Dance enables the children to flourish and be who they want to be through dance".
In this podcast, Cicero speaks with incredible South Tyneside Foster Carer, Paula. Paula is a Foster Carer who has cared for children who attend Care to Dance in the North East for over 3 years. Paula and Cicero explore the importance of children engaging with the Arts, the impact this has on their confidence and wellbeing and how creative practitioners can holistically support young people who have experienced trauma.
Within Care to Dance, we provide holistic support for children, working with their carers and those who are important to them to celebrate their achievements together. Creating a community and extended network is a core outcome that we strive to achieve.
"From a trauma-informed background, it's enabling the children to be who they want to be through dance".
In this episode, Inclusion Lead Cicero, speaks with our incredible Stockton Lead Ambassador, Lily!
They share how they have supported other young people through their Ambassador role and reflect on the impact that they have made on a systemic level. They explore the power of dance and their journey through Care to Dance over the last 4 years.
"Music is therapy" - the words from our incredible Ambassador, Shanice.
Shanice is a young person who attends our Leicestershire programme who, in this podcast, shares her love for music, the meaning behind her songs and her hopes for the future. Shanice shares how music has provided her a platform to express herself and relate to others, whilst also supporting her through a 'healing journey'. Take a listen to hear more.
We are celebrating National Care Leavers Week 2023! In this podcast, our amazing Apprentice Brooke talks about the importance of Social Workers building relationships with young people and how this can set a precedent for other professional relationships. She explores the importance of authenticity in relationships and promoting support networks around a young person.
In this episode, you will hear Cicero and Donna explore the impact that the Arts can have on care-experienced young people.
Here is some more information about our guest, Donna Chapman, Virtual School Head of Leicestershire County Council.
My name is Donna Chapman and I am relatively new to the Virtual School Head role. I started in October last year and I have learnt soooo much since I started. Prior to this role I trained and worked as a primary school teacher and developed a deep passion for working with young people with additional needs and so trained to be a SENDCo early on in my career. I became a designated safeguarding lead, Assistant Head teacher for Inclusion and then a designated teacher for children in care. I hold a firm belief that education is about teaching young people a variety of skills, including the arts and sports. Giving young people the opportunity to learn new skills and develop through the arts and sport is crucial in supporting mental health, wellbeing, developing creativity and life-long learning.
The Leicestershire Virtual School team are an incredible group of people working tirelessly to advocate for our young people in care. We work hard with schools and other professionals to ensure our young people get the support they need in order to achieve high aspirations and goals.
Leicestershire Virtual School have signed up to complete the Artsmark award, supporting our care experienced young people to develop their creativity and love for the arts. We are helping to signpost events and participation activities in a wide range of arts to encourage our young people to get involved and try new things. We firming believe that so many skills can be developed such as team work, creativity, communication, emotional support, imagination, self-esteem, the list goes on.
In this podcast, Inclusion Lead Cicero, speaks to Director and Social Worker Beth about the use of empowering language. We explore the importance of always being mindful of the use of our language when working with children and young people. We discuss how context and adopting an individualistic approach is key in the way we communicate with young people.
Cicero, Inclusion Lead and young person, within Care to Dance, speaks with Bailey about the his journey and how dance has helped him growing up. Bailey is care-experienced himself and now, as an adult, is motivated to support other young people to tell their story through creativity and dance.
In this episode, Inclusion Lead Cicero and Director Beth talk about the positive impact initiatives such as Care to Dance can have on care-experienced young people. Cicero shares his insights, reflections and thoughts around the importance of supporting a young person's talents and interests whilst exploring the impact Care to Dance has had on him.
Check out more about Care to Dance - www.caretodance.co.uk