EP14: Why Fundraising Matters

Episode 14 – Why Fundraising Matters

Why does fundraising play such a big role at Freedom 2 Dance? In this episode, Laura and Michelle share how fundraising helps keep dance accessible for families, why they created a charitable arm alongside the dance school, and the difference it makes to opportunities for every dancer. A behind-the-scenes conversation about community, inclusion, and making dance possible for all.

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Hello and welcome to the Freedom to Dance Podcast. This is the place where we talk about absolutely everything in our little crazy world of dance. From what goes on inside our studio to the wider dance industry, too. You'll get to know your teachers, hear from real-life dance parents, and maybe even some of our pupils. And who knows what they'll have to say. So grab your dancing shoes or maybe just a copper. Join us for all the laugh stories and behind-the-scenes fun at Freedom to Dance. Hello everyone. Today we're going to be talking about something that is actually a huge part of life here at Freedom to Dance, and that is fundraising. Ooh, the dreaded fundraising. We're really lucky though at Freedom to Dance because we have the friends of Freedom to Dance who are a group of dedicated parent volunteers who give up their time to massively support our school. Yeah, we do. I mean, we used to do it. We started off doing it. But you know, for transparency and things like that, we we decided to set up the group. But not just that, it's it's a time thing. So I think certainly the biggest thing that I appreciate from this group of parents is the time that they put in and the effort to to organise in all the events that they're doing for the fundraising. So, you know, every raffle ticket that's sold, every social event that's organised, every fundraising activity, it's all made possible by that group of volunteers who give up their own time to put these amazing things on. And it's because they deeply care about our dance family as well. Yeah, and kind of just to um kind of clarify, um Michelle and I, we actually have nothing to do with that group at all, other than we attend their meeting for 20 minutes once a month, and because they have their own constitution. So for those of you who are not aware, a constitution is a set of rules that govern the group. Um, it outlines their aims, it gives them a framework. There's a treasurer, a chair, a secretary. Yeah um, all of them are active committee members with responsibilities and roles, they have their own bank account. And whenever we go for something funding, for example, we ask them to fund some costumes, we go to them, we say, Hey, we're doing this at the dance school, and we'd love for you to support it. And then we go away and they come back to us uh with their decisions. So um, you know, everything's in place to make sure that they are running securely and independently from the dance school as well. Yeah, but going back, not only do they raise funds, they also organise some fabulous social events. Over the years, we've had so many events for our dancers and for the F2D families. Things like race nights, yeah, sleepovers, um, Christmas parties, summer parties. Yeah. We had a drag night this year for adults. Um, we've had so many it's really nice to bring everybody together at social events as well. It's something that was very much a part of um when I was um a child and I was dancing, it was very much that kind of family feel, and we all did things together. And and so the social events are a really nice opportunity for the whole of the dance school to come together and um and celebrate. And you're all there because you you are all part of freedom to dance, which means that your um child or children have found something that they enjoy doing with a group of people that they in love that they love and enjoy being around. So the social events are great for that. Um and you know, I think um certainly without you know the the friends of committee um and the group of those parents that run that, many of the experiences that we provide and certainly some of the opportunities just simply wouldn't be possible. Um, or yes, they would be, but they would then start coming at a charge um to the families. Yeah. We would have to charge parents directly to attend a presentation to um travel on a bus to you know, yeah, wherever. So team outfits that we pay, like everything would end up coming out of papers and bearers' pockets. Um and you know, dance isn't always a cheap hobby for for your child to be involved in, and certainly when they get involved with competitions and with doing shows and going and you know, doing these experiences whether to travel to and all this, that, and the other. Um, so it really is a valuable part of our dance squad that we have this group of parents that are trying their very best to help fund these events so that um you know our parents and carers don't have the full cost to lay out. Absolutely. And the like you say, the funds raised help support costumes, social events, the funded transport support, transport, transport costs, they've subsidised um dance experiences, presentation events, and and so much more. And the amount of dance teachers, in fact, I had a call last week. The amount of dance schools that ring us and say, Hey, you know, you see that you've got this group of parents that are doing this for other parents. How on earth did you make this happen? How on earth do you run this? What's your involvement? Yeah, what do you subsidize? And you know, we're meeting with another dance school um in the next couple of weeks to help them set up something similar. And yes, they are another local dance school, and yes, we do support other local dance schools because it's about the whole community. Um, and you know, from our point of view, there's no competition between schools, we're all doing the same thing, we're working for the same house. And at the end of the day, it's all about giving um children and young adults opportunities to do something that they love on a more regular basis on bigger stages, on bigger platforms. And you know, if we all actually came together and shared um our ideas and successes, just imagine how amazing the dance community would be. I think ultimately the Friends of um is about making dance accessible. Yeah. Because at the end of the day, we have costs associated with our dance school business. Yeah. That we have to, you know, charge dance class spees more and things like that. If we can relieve that pressure off you guys with, you know, help have a group having a group of people that can help reduce costume costs or event costs, then that makes dance ultimately more accessible. It doesn't, I think that's the thing, isn't it? We want to be able to offer so many amazing um opportunities and experiences for our pupils at Freedom to Dance, um, that you know, this group is all about giving back to our dancers and creating those opportunities for every child. Yeah. So when you see a monthly prize draw or you hear about a fundraising event, a social activity or an appeal, please remember it is for everyone in the school and you don't particularly have to support that. It might be that you have got friends and family that would want to support that. Maybe they'd want to be in our monthly draw. That would make a huge difference. It doesn't have to come directly from the pocket of the parents. Yeah. It might be that you work for an organization who might want to support what we do. Yeah. Hook up with us, let us know. We'll do the legwork. You you kind of like introduce us, absolutely. Um, you know, so we do, you know, we would genuinely love to see more families getting involved. Um, because at the end of the day, every bit of support helps create these amazing experiences. Yeah, and I'm gonna bring it back to the people that do put in the time voluntary, which is our friends of freedom to dance volunteers. Um, I do feel like they deserve a shout out because they don't get anything other than a warm sense of achievement for for doing this. They don't they don't get paid for notices, they don't get, you know, front row tickets, they don't get, you know, any special perks other than you know wearing that badge of honour that says I'm helping other people. Like it they do it for the rewards, not for um, you know, anything, you know, that they personally benefit from in any single way. In fact, this weekend, in this heat, they're going to a local um gala, which we can't perform at unfortunately, because we're preparing for a huge competition um in Blackpool, which is following weekend. Yeah. Um, but they're gonna be there flying the F2D flag. Yeah. In fact, they've got some little hand flags to hand. Oh, I've heard about these. I've not seen it. You've not seen them yet, been away, but we've got some little handheld flags. I did have them in my kitchen for about two weeks when I took them down as a student. Um, but yes, anyway, it's diagon. But yeah, and you know, their hard work really does help create memories that last a lifetime. Um, so please get involved, support your dad's family, um, and help us to continue giving back. What a way to end that Von. What a way to end. We'll see you next time. Bye.