Wheelchair Dancing Class Volunteer

Dancing on Wheels New Forest is a wheelchair dancing class meeting in the afternoon of the second Wednesday of each month, open to all wheelchair users and led by their interests in dance. You can explore movement, music, rhythm and flow in these fun, accessible, creative classes. Sessions are run by experienced dance tutors and are designed to meet the needs of everyone in the class, whether being a self-propelled wheelchair user, powered wheelchair user or are accompanied by a companion. We dance in the big accessible ballroom at New Milton Memorial Centre, Whitefield Road, New Milton BH25 6DE with easy parking outside. Arrival is from 3pm for socialising time, then 3.30pm to 4.30pm led by our dance tutors in the group based on a monthly changing musical theme.

Background:

Currently we are sponsored by Culture in Common with funding which finishes in March 2026. I am keen to find more people using wheelchairs, living in the community, who could use a wheelchair dancing class in the New Forest for their health and wellbeing. Potentially Dancing on Wheels New Forest could embrace another class if we get enquiries from different people with different interests in dancing. We are the only wheelchair dancing class currently in the New Forest which is why I wanted to start a new class covering the New Forest after lockdown. My story is that my own son Simon, who lives in a care home bungalow in Hordle, was attending a wheelchair dancing class in Southampton in the evening, which closed down following the death of their founder and teacher before lockdown, and the local care homes missed the idea of wheelchair dancing, when I enquired.

Skills

We are currently seeking one or two extra volunteers for these monthly sessions on the second Wednesday of each month. Helping to set up tables in the ballroom for the dance teachers and chairs and table for refreshments. Possibly serve drinks and biscuits from the hatch if needed. Then to meet the wheelchair members of the group with or without their companion when they arrive at the Centre, socialise with refreshments from 3pm to 3.30pm. Then help the dance teachers set up the floor with cones and pass around props e.g. flags, ribbons, wrist bells and for the parachute activity, take over from a companion pushing a wheelchair user to give the companion a break and generally help the wheelchair dancers have a good class experience.

There is no personal care required.