WIREDGOV

Watch the incredible moment when the Expressions School of Dance in Methil Fife were surprised with the news that they had received their first National Lottery award.

Video available at https://youtu.be/9i7eunMC5BU

Announced yesterday (THURS 29 NOVEMBER) the National Lottery Awards for All grant of £8,400 means that the group can deliver a range of dance and fitness activities that build confidence and self-esteem in people of all ages and abilities in Methil.

Founder of Expressions School of Dance, Amanda Mitchell, and her students thought they were being filmed as part of their National Lottery Awards for All funding application until Funding Officer, Jessie Duncan, shared the real reason for her visit.

Amanda set up Expressions School of Dance ten years ago but it was in 2013 that things really took off when she moved the school into The Studio, the former Innerleven Church, turned community hub, in Methil.  With at least 50 people coming through its doors each day the group provides dance classes for all ages and abilities, as well as exercise classes for older people, pilates classes, a creche and a disco for people with additional support needs.

Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players, Expressions School of Dance will use its National Lottery Awards for All grant to help meet the growing demand for its classes which build confidence and self-esteem of people of all ages.

Amanda, yesterday said: “This is amazing. The last thing I expected to hear today was the fabulous news that we’ve got our National Lottery Awards for All funding. This means that we can now bring on board a new member of staff to help us accommodate the growing demand for our classes and to make sure that more people who want to join can do so. 
“Being based in the heart of the community means that we get so many different people coming through our doors and it’s always a delight to see them grow in confidence, meet new friends and become part of a wider family.”

Margaret Gear, who led on the funding application and also features in the surprise film, added: “I love volunteering at Expressions School of Dance. It’s more than just a dance school, it’s a place for the whole community to come regardless of age or ability.”

Expressions School of Dance received its funding from National Lottery Awards for All Scotland - a quick and simple way to access small National Lottery grants of between £300 and £10,000.

A National Lottery Awards for All spokesperson said: “A huge congratulations to Expressions School of Dance on its first ever National Lottery award. Small amounts of funding can often make the biggest difference to small community, arts and sports projects and this is a great example of this in action.  It’s lovely to be able to surprise a group in this way but we can only do this, thanks to the generosity of National Lottery players.”

To find out what National Lottery Awards for All Scotland could do for your community visit our website www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/awardsforallscotland  or phone 0300 123 7110. Applications are received on a rolling basis and can be received at any time.

For more info contact Big Lottery Fund Media Team: 0141 242 1458
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: #NationalLottery @BIGScotland
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to editors

• National Lottery Awards for All Scotland is a joint awards programme from the Big Lottery Fund, Creative Scotland and sportscotland.
• National Lottery Awards for All Scotland makes grants to help people take part in arts, sport, social, environmental, health related, educational and other community activities.
• National Lottery Awards for All Scotland welcomes applications and focuses on funding smaller organisations with an annual turnover of less than £250k (except for schools).