Royal appointment for young dancers (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
Red carpet rolled our for kind-hearted youngsters
7:00am Saturday 9th March 2013 in News
Princess Anne
A DANCE project that aims to stop young offenders from returning to crime will receive a royal seal of approval next week.
Teenagers from the Wessex Dance Academy will receive a commendation from HRH The Princess Royal at a ceremony for the Butler Trust Annual Awards at Buckingham Palace.
The group aims to transform the lives of people aged 14 to 18 who have offended and are at risk of re-offending and who have been excluded from mainstream |education.
Run by Hampshire County Council and the county’s youth offending team, it is linked to professional dance company Dance United, with young people able to take part in three sessions a year.
The academy was formed following a pilot project in 2009 when reoffending rates averaged at 34 per cent, but the full impact of the service itself will not be known until later this year when it celebrates its |first birthday.
Representatives will meet the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace on Monday.
