The power of dance is helping the city’s most vulnerable. Liam Wilson meets the team using movement to change lives – before their funding runs out.
It is 1pm on a grey Thursday afternoon in West Bridgford when Amanda Hose-Hawley’s enthusiasm lights up the room.
Standing in front of the class, she welcomes everyone with a smile, eager to bring happiness to the people who need it most.
This group is bringing the elderly and vulnerable community together through joyful dance.
Whether someone has dementia, special educational needs or is just feeling alone, IMPACD CIC’s vision is inclusivity.
Walking into the West Bridgford session, it was immediately evident what the priority was.
The chairs were arranged in a circle, ensuring nobody had their back turned to anybody else.
It’s these small details that can make a big difference when making people feel seen.
The session began with each person introducing themselves along with a physical action of their choosing, which was then repeated by everyone else in the room.
People from all backgrounds gather to their weekly classes to express themselves through dance.
As they smile and sing, it’s clear this is their happy place – somewhere they feel safe and together.
But in March next year, this will all come to an end.
The weekly sessions – funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund – started in August and will run for seven months.
They embrace diversity and encourage individuals to explore their unique movement styles.
The classes are available in eight locations across Nottingham and are led by three passionate women: Amanda Hose-Hawley, Aisha Blake and Issy Dickinson.
But with the contract ending in March, these community spaces could be dwindling.
The trio are hoping they will receive funding to ensure similar classes continue their legacy.
Founder director of IMPACD, Amanda, said: “Over and over again when we’ve gone for bids we’ve been told what we’re doing is not possible, and we’re like… we’re doing it.
“We’ve been turned down a few times already.
“If we get the funding, the plan is to train up 20 dance champions to use this method around the city and county.”
It’s a method that is simple yet so effective, and the proof is in the pudding.
At the 2025 This Girl Can Awards, IMPACD won the Physical Activity Group award, while Amanda and Issy won the Special Recognition and Get Out Get Active Inclusion awards respectively.
The event attracted over 500 nominations and IMPACD took home three of the 11 available awards.
Despite their successes, the group are still struggling to attract participants and volunteers.
The West Bridgford sessions are well-attended, averaging 22 a week.
But other locations attract as little as a few.
Amanda said: “We just can’t get people to come.
“The one or two people who do come literally shout off the rooftops about it, but it doesn’t grow.
“We need more because to get that social contact that we’re trying to encourage, it’s nice to have new faces.
“We are looking for volunteers; we do need more.
“If we get people who are early-onset dementia, they might come on their own but will have absences, and having more volunteers will help keep people in the present.”
One elderly woman, wearing a bright pink fleece, very quietly introduced herself with the help of who appeared to be her daughter next to her.
Then came the music and dance.
Class leader Amanda’s enthusiasm echoed through the room as she started with hand flicks and foot kicks.
Some stood and danced through the open space but were encouraged to never turn their back on a seated person.
Classic musical numbers from Footloose, Hairspray and Singin’ in the Rain belted out, and who was singing louder than anybody else?
The quiet, pink-fleeced woman, whose voice had been found.
It’s these places that maintain community spirit, and where strangers from completely different walks of life can meet over shared troubles.
Nowhere else would a struggling elderly woman meet a young man with special educational needs and immediately form a bond.
And then simply hug it out.
For IMPACD, this doesn’t feel like work.
They do it because they love it and are passionate about it continuing.
Creative artist Aisha said: “It makes me feel purposeful and encouraged.
“It brings a sense that you’re not really going to find anywhere else – that feeling of comfort.
“Fingers crossed that it can continue in the future and other people have the same kind of incentive to bring communities together.”
According to the County Council Network, the East Midlands’ 65+ population rose by nearly 25 per cent from 2011-2021.
But the city council are planning on scrapping the £600,000 a year it subsidises to its community centres.
This would force community hubs to either be self-sustainable or close.
And elderly residents would be some of the most affected by this.
As the West Bridgford session finished, and the rain was pouring down, a handful of the session-goers trickled into the warm café next door for tea, biscuits and a natter.
Many of the town’s elderly are technologically challenged and rely on in-person social events to stay connected.
And through these classes, they arrive to stay active and leave with new friends.
In that afternoon, they were reminded of what a hardworking community can achieve: a safe space for the most vulnerable.
Yet these spaces are disappearing.
And without sufficient funding and volunteers, the dream IMPACD have of inspiring similar classes to continue their legacy won’t be awoken.
