Stopgap, who have been very impressed with the achievements of the Thrive Dance Academy (TDA) programme and see immense complementarity with their work, are keen to take over and expand the TDA project with a very clear strategy for building sustainability.

Stopgap recruit 20-25 young people to attend 12 weekly dance sessions providing an alternative curriculum for young people struggling to cope in mainstream education. Some of them are previous TDA participants and although they have already benefited hugely from the earlier programme, continued participation enabled them to consolidate their achievements. They took on more responsibility in the development of the group’s work and used their experience to work with the new participants. Stopgap also show them the possibilities of careers in performing arts, with an apprenticeship scheme operated through Stopgap being a very real target.

Students of Thrive Dance Academy performed a powerful dance at The Farnham Maltings as their graduation performance. As High Sheriff, it was a huge pleasure to present the certificates to the graduates, as well as a High Sheriff Youth Award to Stopgap. Rachel’s inspiration in providing an alternative to mainstream schooling to achieve success through dancing is incredible.

Stopgap Dance

Awarded 2019-2020