Grant helps group to keep on dancing

Walsall Housing Group (whg) has got a spring in its step after giving a dance group a grant to fund a tutor for 12 months.

whg awarded Collingwood Youth Club’s Dance Project £1,840 from its Local Neighbourhood Fund which supports community projects across Walsall.

Steve McGregor, whg’s estate services manager for Aldridge and Brownhills, said: “We were approached by the group and asked for assistance in meeting the cost of continuing to use its dance tutor for a period of 12 months after its previous funding reached an end. We were delighted to offer our support as this is a popular activity on the estate and one which has been very well received by the local community.”

The dance project was launched around five years ago and around 18 young people aged 11-18 attend its sessions at Collingwood Centre, on the Pheasey estate in Walsall, every Wednesday evening.

The group takes part in dance and other performing arts including drama, singing and song writing culminating in performances at shows and events throughout the year.

Colin Hooper, youth work manager at Walsall Council, said: “We are very grateful for whg’s support as the project has proved extremely popular since it was launched and gives young people a wider choice of activities to get involved with.”

whg’s Local Neighbourhood Fund was launched last year to support good work in the community and has benefited a range of groups across Walsall from providing new equipment to funding youth projects.