Locals of Winchester get their dancing shoes on for charity

People from all backgrounds are being included in dance whether that’s being in a wheelchair or over 65.

Move Momentum the award-winning local charity that won the Prestige Award for dance class of the year in 2022 prides itself on being inclusive and affordable to all in Winchester. 

Founded in 2016, it’s located in Winnall Valley at Unit 12, tucked into Winchester. 

Lizzie Sawyer, the Administrator and Marketing Officer of Move Momentum, has been attending the wheelchair dance classes since 2019. 

Ms Sawyer says how important charities like these can allow more people from a younger age to “see my disability and my wheelchair as something to be proud of rather than something to be ashamed of”.

With a lack of support for those with a disability has been an issue for many years, Sawyer said about “being disabled at birth, I’ve never had anything like this growing up”.

Until her joining Move Momentum Ms Sawyer says she has really “discover myself and get into myself and express”. 

The Liberate Dance is an exclusively Wheelchair based dance group which is £3.50 per class, allowing those normally excluded from sports to be included in catered dance lessons. 

They aim to focus on improving mental and physical well-being for all and have formed a supportive community in classes. 

Statistics from the Office for National Statistics have found that 13% of disabled people feel “lonely often or always”, which is almost four times that of non-disabled people.

This highlights the importance of charities like Move Momentum and how their presence can help improve mental well-being. 

Disability History Month, running from 20th November to 20th December is focuses on Disability, life and death as well as highlighting the achievements of disabled people.

It’s important these events, however many question this monthly celebration as Lizzie Sawyer says “it should be something we consciously learn about” instead of waiting for one month to think oh let’s celebrate”.