I’m honoured to be recognised as a finalist for “20 years a Social Enterprise Champion” in Selnet Ltd awards, and to have been nominated for the SMK Lifetime Achievement award.

I have always championed social change, challenging assumptions and adding my voice and support wherever I can – as a naturally shy introvert that’s been quite something! I believe when individuals are treated with respect and offered the right support and opportunities for them, they flourish – leading their lives with joy, contributing to society.

Since the moment a health professional wrote Jen off 10 days after her birth and said “put her in a home and forget about her” I guess I’ve been campaigning for people with learning disabilities to be treated as humans with the right to be respected, valued and offered support and opportunity. I’ve only ever done what I felt was right for Jen and right for us as a family.

For the past 44 years we have never known what’s possible, but we’ve taken one step at a time, followed the path that felt right for us, challenged assumptions when necessary and made people think differently. Out of pure frustration, after 10 years of searching for the right support for Jen to become the community dance leader she aspired to be, we created DanceSyndrome in 2009. We had no idea the impact and reach it would have for Jen and others like her to lead dance in their communities these past 17 years.

Social change is happening

It’s hard to measure transformation – being valued as a human being; developing friendships; feeling part of

DanceSyndrome Dance Collective after performance of SENse at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2023

something instead of being isolated and not accepted for who you are. From being written off as “won’t amount to much” to being awarded an honorary degree and recognized in the King’s Honours list – how do we measure that impact? Not just on the individual but the community they live and work in, and the people they inspire through workshops and presentations they lead?

The development of DanceSyndrome unlocked natural connections, friendships and a sense of belonging for people with and without learning disabilities. We see families experience hope and believe it’s possible for everyone to lead fulfilling purposeful lives that lead to unexpected outcomes from whatever interaction they have with the organisation.

The charity inspires change by demonstrating possibilities through the leaders and role models who all happen to have learning disabilities. More people are becoming active citizens contributing to society, which reduces the need for public service support in some instances. The parents and carers of, and people with learning disabilities, are creating happier lives through growth and development, health and wellbeing and employment outcomes.

Beacon for change

We never could have imagined DanceSyndrome being a multi-award-winning beacon for change for individuals and communities, showing and delivering through training, performance and community activities. There is still so much to do to put inclusion at the heart of everything!

We have developed a model that is replicable. We know the impact and transformation that’s possible. We want to ensure change happens in every town across the UK, and Jen won’t let us forget she wants to get the world dancing!

We never could have imagined Jen being honoured as a role model through the King’s birthday honours list and an honorary degree from the University of Salford. It feels unreal sometimes. As we’ve continued to focus on what’s possible throughout Jen’s life she and her dancing family continue to inspire others, showing us all what’s possible when you have the right support.

Dr (h.c.) Jen is my very best teacher – DanceSyndrome wouldn’t have happened without her, nor would it be growing and reaching people the way it does without the incredible team, dancers, trustees and volunteers who work and support each day and week to create a society where everyone matters and has equality of opportunity to lead happy, healthy and purposeful lives.

Crusade for Social Change

It’s wonderful to have our work recognised as a valuable contributor to creating social change. But, we’ve so much more to do!

DanceSyndrome’s hugely powerful Inclusion in Action training is creating waves of change and we want more people and organisations to start thinking and acting differently so the ripples go further and wider through health, social care, education and businesses. Co-led by a person with a learning disability, one parent who experienced this training last year said, “I had no idea my daughter experienced life like that”.

Everybody matters and our experience shows that it’s possible to lead from a foundation of inclusion. We believe it’s necessary to build on the firm base of inclusion in all parts of our community. Open doors and listening to individuals and their families and support team are the first steps we can all take to show people they are welcome and they belong.

We are a family that offers hope and believe in the art of the possible. We want everyone to live the life of their choosing which is only possible when we have the right support and opportunities. Together we can make that change happen, starting with one activity at a time, one community and organisation at time.

We want to see DanceSyndrome exist in every town of the UK making a difference to thousands of lives. With determination we can make this happen together.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us through Jen’s life and the life of DanceSyndrome. We really do create change together, so we invite you to join us on our continued crusade for social change – we would love to hear what you can do to support this intention. Leave a comment below or get in touch with me directly.