We have been based in South East London since 2012. We work closely with the local community, outreach to other boroughs and present our work at National level. MovementWorks® aims to optimise the learning potential for individuals of all abilities through dance and movement. We provide scientifically proven dance and movement programmes that support this aim. All children deserve the best opportunities to learn. Movement is at the core of childhood and intellectual development and is much more important than most people realize.
With the help of emergency grant funding, during the Covid-19 crisis we've been able to adapt our service and offer 'MovementWorks Online', a live delivery programme of specialist classes that support learning through movement while addressing physical and mental well-being. As well as supporting our existing beneficiaries, we have grown a new audience of over 1000 with these remote sessions.
Our grant funding will soon be coming to an end but demand has sky-rocketed. We're aware of the call for an 'on-demand' service for those who find it difficult to commit to a set time and need a more flexible approach. A MovementWorks library would be a new initiative, an expansion of our existing offer and allow high-quality filmed pre-recorded sessions to support even more people. With your help we'll create a full range of professionally-recorded sessions with our specialist trainers that support vulnerable children and adults, their parents and carers and continue to grow the numbers of those we're able support both during and beyond this pandemic. Even before Covid-19 an inactive population was a big issue, with the British Heart Foundation reporting that less than 20% of children and young people were achieving the recommended daily amount of physical activity. The World Health Organisation has highlighted concerns that the restrictions and lockdowns have heavily impacted children's physical development to the extent that many have regressed in fundamental skills. This reveals the importance of movement-based education more than ever.
As so many of our beneficiaries are from communities that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic our work focuses on the specific challenges these communities face through our flagship programmes Developmental Dance Movement® and Autism Movement Therapy®, together with complementary sessions such as stress busting Laughter Yoga, Sensory Movement for children with complex needs and Storytelling Yoga combining early literacy with physical development which have featured culturally diverse and inclusive stories, some of them read by the original authors.
We have recently raised £12,633 with a Crowdfunding campaign towards a £15,000 target to create our On Demand Online Library. While our initial target of £9,565 will cover the up front production costs associated with creating a MovementWorks Library, everything we can now raise over and above will be used to enhance the project by developing and adding content - making this a meaningful lasting resource.
With your help any additional funds raised beyond our £15,000 target will add even more value by helping us to directly support our beneficiaries with brand new projects when face to face delivery is allowed to recommence.
Extended restrictions have impacted physical health and emotional well being. Never before has there been such a need for this work. Thank you for your continued support.
To give you a better idea of the age range and levels of ability we're able to provide for and the uniqueness of our services visit:
MovementWorks.org/MovementWorks-online-sessions/MovementWorks Online
To find more about the scope of our work and our impact you can explore other pages on our site such as our published research and our current projects supported by BBC Children in Need and The London Mayor's Fund.
