Dundee’s Al-Maktoum Institute has awarded a £2,000 donation to Dance Advance, the community-based organisation that has helped hundreds of young people in the city over the past twelve years. Institute Principal, Professor Malory Nye, visited The Space at Dundee College to present the cheque to Shona Ritchie, chairperson of Dance Advance.
This latest donation from the Shaikh Hamdan Community Sponsorship Fund – set up by the Al-Maktoum Institute in February last year – brings sponsorship awards to a total of £23,775.
In all, 13 different organisations have benefited from the Shaikh Hamdan Community Sponsorship Fund, which was established to support community groups and charities in Dundee and the surrounding area in an attempt to help many different groups who might not otherwise be able to fulfil their objectives.
The Institute’s Patron and Sponsor is HH Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance of the United Arab Emirates, whose vision for multiculturalism is at the heart of Al-Maktoum Institute.
“Dance Advance has a great programme of training and other events at community level and we are very pleased to give them this cheque,” said Professor Nye.
“Young people, from age five up to 18, clearly have a good time learning with Dance Advance through the various activities relevant to local community needs.”
Karen Laahs, director with Dance Advance, said the £2,000 cheque was a major boost for the group.
“We are extremely grateful to the Shaikh Hamdan Community Sponsorship Fund and the Al-Maktoum Institute,” said Karen.
“It is a great help as we press on with our aims of providing young people with the opportunity to be involved in community classes, workshops and more recently training towards certification.
“Dance Advance, run by volunteers, wants young people to explore contemporary social issues relevant to them, raise their self-awareness, increase their self confidence and improve their health and well-being.
“We had a sold-out safety-themed performance recently involving a hundred young people for family, friends, members of local communities and representatives from partnership agencies at The Space.
“This might not have gone ahead without the award of this cheque so it was very welcome indeed.”
Picture (right) shows Shona Ritchie, chairperson of Dance Advance receiving cheque from Professor Nye.
