The Hargreaves Foundation supports Pavillion Dance South West

The trustees of the Hargreaves Foundation are pleased to announce that funding has been awarded to Pavilion Dance South West, a charity with a mission to transform communities through dance. Based in central Bournemouth, it offers a ladder of dance activities for children from birth to 18, through classes, in-school workshops, performances and events that welcome people of all backgrounds and abilities.

Many young people aged 11–14 struggle with poor mental health, anxiety and low self-esteem, and they often lack accessible ways to build resilience and a sense of belonging. Shift Dance was developed over five years in partnership with Dorset Mind and has already shown promising results. 87.5% of participants on the 2023–24 programme at Cornerstone Academy reported an improvement in their wellbeing, and 75% said they were better able to deal with problems.

With funding from the Hargreaves Foundation, Pavilion Dance South West will deliver nine eight-week Shift Dance programmes across three schools, reaching 135 young people. Weekly one-hour workshops take place during curriculum time, so that no child misses out because of financial, social or logistical barriers. Each session is led by a dance artist and a wellbeing practitioner, working alongside school staff. Through movement, participants develop teamwork, persistence and communication skills, alongside improved emotional resilience, confidence and self-worth.