The Wessex Dance Academy is a 12-week programme for vulnerable young people aged 14-18 across Hampshire who have offended or are on release from custody. The scheme will be working with the Troubled Families Programme at Hampshire County Council also plans to targetĀ other young people such as those at pupil referral units and Looked After Children deemed to be at risk of offending.
Based in the Winchester suburb of Fulflood, the intensive and physically demanding programme puts young people through specialist contemporary dance tuition which culminates with a live dance performance at the Theatre Royal in the city this week. As well as the discipline of daily dance classes, the young people are encouraged to look at healthy lifestyle options with tips on preparing healthy meals and the importance of a healthy diet and keeping fit.
On 16th October 2012 representatives from the Academy were in Westminster to give evidence to the House of Commons Justice Select Committee as part of its inquiry into youth justice. Manager of the WDA, Clare Hobbs, and Ian Langley from the Troubled Families Programme at Hampshire County were invited to give evidence by Winchester MP Steve Brine who is a member of the influential committee.
Steve says: "I visited the Academy earlier this year and saw for myself its ground-breaking work along with the Prisons Minister on a visit to Winchester. It is early days for the programme but its early re-offending figures compare very favourably with the overall re-offending rate across Hampshire and I can absolutely see the self-confidence and discipline skills it gives to the young people.
"I was so impressed I wanted them to present the programme to my committee and our youth justice inquiry was the perfect forum. We have lots of witnesses appear before us but I can honestly say Clare and Ian were two of the most passionate we have heard from and really gave my fellow MPs a sense of the dance programme, its overall content and how it could play an even greater role in our aim to reduce re-offending rates and steer young people away from the criminal justice system."
The committee report comes out later this year and more details, including its terms of reference for the youth justice inquiry can be found via www.parliament.uk/justicecom.
Pictured; Steve joins Clare Hobbs and Ian Langley in the House of Commons
More information...
The Wessex Dance Academy present their latest live performance at the Theatre Royal, Winchester on Thursday 18th October at 7pm. You can contact the theatre via www.theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk or 01962 840 440.