All Posts By

Kathryn OToole

Kathryn OToole
In Latest News

Best All-Ages Dance Activity Company 2023

Synergy are delighted to receive our 10th Award to date. Best All-Ages Dance Activity Company 2023 in the 5th annual SME News’ 2023 Business at the Elite Awards. We’ve been working hard to provide activities for all ages and abilities.

The SME Business Elite Awardees for 2023 are handpicked by SME News Magazine and are based purely on comprehensive analysis and research undertaken by the wider group. Each year they celebrate those enterprises who consistently provide the best services and products for their clients, allowing them to stand out within their representative fields. Furthermore, they award those SME’s that are succeeding in their endeavours, innovating, growing and improving.

In addition to the above award, Synergy’s other recent awards stand for Digital delivery, Innovation, Inclusion and Diversity and the company was filmed by Strictly Come Dancing in November 2021. Our main goal is to help you reach yours and to get everyone moving!

Finally, a message from the founder – Rachael Hurton:

Best All-Ages Dance Activity Company 2023 is a wonderful award for Synergy to win and is recognition to the Synergy team, instructors and Ambassadors, for going the extra mile over the last year. Especially since, we have continued to expand our services, both on site and On Demand, from seated and standing to high and low impact programmes, for all ages. Our inclusive services cater for juniors, teens, adults and seniors and are our customers are from multiple sectors including:

  1. The disability community,
  2. Those with Special Educational Needs,
  3. Healthy ageing and low-impact programs,
  4. Those with Long Term Health Conditions,
  5. Visually Impaired and Blind,
  6. Deaf Community and Hard of Hearing (with captions)
  7. NHS Referrals

Likewise, our impact is now expanding rapidly throughout the UK via schools, leisure chains, care homes, Education and schools, charities, Trusts and more. As a result, we are making a difference and providing exercise opportunities for all ages – from young Gwho was having a tough time of it post covid to our elderly residents enjoying Synergy ParaStars Dance at the The Clockhouse.

Their stories inspire us to work incredibly hard every day….

G’s Story:

“Since starting his dance classes I, and school have seen a huge change in G. G has only been attending for a couple of months, but has grown hugely in confidence and made huge personal developments in his understanding and language. He is so keen to copy his teacher, firstly watching her perform the dance move, then trying to copy, and has even started to develop some language, copying her as she tells him what the dance move is called, Amazing!”

Hannah – parent

ParaStars Dance at The Clockhouse:

“The sessions have had an amazing impact, our customers and staff really look forward to them. The sessions create a lot of fun, and laughter and generally improve the sense of well-being within the group. They are truly an amazing opportunity to enable people to try something that is usually inaccesible to them”

Charlotte Lawrence – The Clockhouse (AGE UK)

Synergy Dance® provides innovative dance, yoga and fitness services for all. As a result of this, we are leading the way in inclusive fitness offering programs onsite, and on-demand via Synergy Active Online, with omnichannel fitness models for multiple sectors. Help us to reach more people like G by sharing this post or joining forces with us. Contact us today to help us get everyone moving or arrange a chat on admin@synergydance.co.uk

Find out more:

Synergy Active Online 

Synergy Demo

https://synergydance.co.uk

https://synergydanceoutreach.co.uk

Kathryn OToole
In Latest News

Rachael Hurton, Founder of Synergy Dance, talks all things Strictly

Rachael and James talk Strictly Come Dancing

Rachael Hurton, Founder of Synergy Dance, talks all things Strictly with BBC Radio Surrey on the morning show on Monday 2nd October. Rachael and the presenter discuss the dance off, dancing couples to watch and the benefits of dance for ages.

The programme is a couple of weeks in.

Rachael commented that Les Dennis was the first celebrity to be voted off. Was he the right person to go? Whilst great at entertainment and a lot of fun, he did need to work on footwork. The Samba is a tricky dance that typically accounts for people going out.

Nikita needs to work on technique but has musicality, while Jody and Jowita struggled.

Technique generally is very high this year, and Rachael saw a lot of improvement this week. She was impressed with Amanda and Giovanni – Amanda has musicality and performance and nailed the salsa.

Angela Rippon is dancing with Kai. Angela has commented that dance is fantastic for an ageing population. She believes it is the best exercise for mind and body – and this is borne out by older Synergy clients, who relish the company’s dance, yoga and movement classes which are designed for all ages.

Angela Scanlon and Carlos did the jive this week and really stepped up – Rachael thinks they are a couple to watch. Bobby and Diane are popular too with their energetic routines.

Whilst on air – We were asked about the company. Synergy is a very inclusive dance programme, available both on demand and on site in leisure centres, schools, care homes and more. Synergy Active Online is also a public resource for learning dance routines On Demand at home. The organisation has won nine awards including Digital Dance and Fitness Provider of the year.

Rachael says, ‘We love dance and want to get everybody moving!’ Strictly Come Dancing filmed a Synergy class in November 2021 and the Radio show host recalled this exciting event.

Rachael encourages everyone to dance whatever their age or circumstances! Dance has proven benefits backed by scientific research, enables production of mood-boosting endorphins and can help address emotional and psychological challenges. Put simply, it makes us feel good! It can help reduce stress, build confidence, and promote emotional regulation and resilience. It can be enjoyed in class but also, once techniques are learned, practised at home to provide lifelong benefits.

Listen to the interview here: https://youtu.be/CXG48uyWjgk

Want to find out more, keep dancing or arrange for a standing or seated dance and yoga classes in your venue?

Contact: admin@synergydance.co.uk

Want to learn and practice dance anytime anywhere? https://synergy-dance-online.teachable.com/ for On Demand exercise 🙂

Kathryn OToole
In Latest News

Surrey Youth Games 2023

Surrey Youth Games 2023 Banner SDO
The Specsavers Surrey Youth Games 2023 is the biggest multi-sport youth programme of its kind in the South East, offering FREE local training for 7-16-year-olds, leading to a final celebratory event for the whole family.
The Games are for beginners who may not get the chance to attend clubs, or are inactive and put off by the thought of competing against others. The focus is on joining in, having a go and having fun, in order to learn new skills and boost confidence.
Free training started after Easter across the county’s boroughs and districts (excluding Tandridge for 2023), with all teams coming together for a family-friendly event at the Surrey Sports Park in Guildford on Sat June 17.

The SSYG is a chance for children of all ages and abilities to try out lots of different sports from basketball to inclusive dance, swimming to judo. It is held at the fantastic facilities in Surrey Sports Park which had a wonderful atmosphere and buzz on the day.

We have spent 6 weeks working on a fun dance routine, choreographed especially for this day, meeting once a week to practice. There were about 12 groups taking part from all over Surrey, split into two sessions (we were in the afternoon). This worked really well as it meant there was plenty of time to explore other events happening. We signed in and had a quick practice and pep talk with the group before taking turns to show our dances to the other groups, parents, siblings and event staff. It was a wonderful atmosphere and everyone was very encouraging (we were also very grateful to be in an air-conditioned studio!). After the performances, all the children were presented with certificates.

I also had a lovely surprise on the day – I saw one of the girls who I taught for this event last year! She enjoyed it so much that she returned this year to try some different events. It just shows what an impact a day like this can have on children and their families – Abigail Young

Kathryn OToole
In Latest News

2023 is getting off to a cracking start

2023 is getting off to a cracking start, as the Synergy team celebrate 3 new awards.

The UK Enterprise Awards, spotlight the most hard-working companies in the United Kingdom, who go above and beyond to provide customers and clients with outstanding products and services. Synergy Dance has received in the UK Enterprise Awards 2023:

Digital Dance & Fitness Provider of the Year 2023

SME Diversity & Inclusion Award 2023

We are also celebrating – Specialist Dance School of the Year 2023 for the 3rd year running, which takes us up to 9 Awards in total.

We stand for inclusion, diversity and belonging and this is reflected in our digital and onsite services. We listen to our clients and make it happen. We have a dedicated team of professionals who always go the extra mile and will continue to expand our delivery to reach as many groups as possible who can benefit from regular activity and the joy of keeping fit, their way! We pay tribute to our loyal business partners who are sharing our services with their members, and the fantastic team who are making it happen every day.

Want to know more about our services or become a sponsor or partner? Email: admin@synergydance.co.uk

#inclusion #diversity #belonging #Awards #Digital #dance #fitness #winner #Ondemand #exercise

Kathryn OToole
In Uncategorised

Synergy Dance® Outreach celebrates after receiving £9,995 in National Lottery funding

For immediate release

Synergy Dance® Outreach: Synergy Saturday Club – Music & movement for disadvantaged SEND children & teens celebrates after receiving £9,995 in National Lottery funding. (previous funding)

Synergy Dance® Outreach based in Guildford is celebrating today after being awarded £9,995 in funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, the largest funder of community activity in the UK.

Synergy Dance® Outreach will use its funding to run a 6-month Saturday workshop programme in Guildford for 25-30 children and teenagers with wide-ranging special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and long-term/life-limiting health conditions.

This new National Lottery funding will enable Synergy Dance® Outreach to reach those most vulnerable within our community and the impact of regular fun, inclusive activities will help to reduce isolation, feelings of stress, anxiety, and frustration. Which, in turn, should help reduce CAHMS referrals and improve mental and physical health alongside other benefits.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. The National Lottery Community Fund distributes a share of this to projects to support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

Rachael Hurton said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant means that we can Thanks to National Lottery players, this grant means that we can provide a Saturday workshop programme in Guildford for children and young people with wide-ranging Special Educational Needs and Disabilities and long-term/life-limiting health conditions. This means the world to us all at Synergy Outreach. We will provide regular fun, accessible workshops for SEND children and teens to reduce feelings of stress, anxiety, frustration, and isolation, build new skills and resilience, improving mental and physical wellbeing, helping to reduce chronic pain, building confidence, independence and hope for the future, through creative expression. Children will build new friendships and the workshops will provide respite for parents/carers. This will make a big difference in people’s lives.

During the pandemic, in 2020 alone, The National Lottery Community Fund distributed almost £1 billion to charities and community organisations across the UK.

To find out more visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk

-ends-

Contact

Rachael Hurton, 01483 954135, rachael.swann@gmail.com

Pictures are available upon request.

Notes to Editors:

About The National Lottery Community Fund

We are the largest funder of community activity in the UK – we support people and communities to prosper and thrive.

We’re proud to award money raised by National Lottery players to communities across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and to work closely with Government to distribute vital grants and funding from key Government programmes and initiatives.

Our funding has a positive impact and makes a difference to people’s lives. We support projects focussed on things that matter, including economic prosperity, employment, young people, mental health, loneliness and helping the UK reach NET Zero by 2050.

Thanks to the support of National Lottery players, our funding is open to everyone. We’re privileged to be able to work with the smallest of local groups right up to UK-wide charities, enabling people and communities to bring their ambitions to life.

National Lottery players raise over £30 million each week for good causes throughout the UK. Since The National Lottery began in 1994, £43 billion has been raised for good causes. National Lottery funding has been used to support over 635,000 projects – 255 projects per postcode area.

Website │Twitter │Facebook │Instagram

Kathryn OToole
In Latest News

We have been nominated for a Community Fitness Award

GREAT NEWS!
The National Community Fitness Awards is a yearly event by Community Fitness Network, with the final being held in Preston on 10th of October 2020. We are very pleased to have been nominated for the following awards:

  • Inspiring Young People and Children 2020
  • Social Inclusion Award 2020

In this time of uncertainty and worry, it’s such a reward to be recognised for our contribution to the community and we are incredibly proud.

Kathryn OToole
In Latest News

Synergy Dance Synergy start the 2.6 Challenge with a 26 minute Yoga session

Thanks to everyone who took part in the lunchtime Yoga class to help start the 2.6 Challenge Live with #SynergyDanceLtd and #BritishBlindSport yesterday.

If you can, please also donate a pound or more towards this session, so we can raise vital funds to #savetheukcharities!

Link to the donation page here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund/BBSTwoPointSixChallenge
#TwoPointSixchallenge

 

Kathryn OToole
In Latest News

Our sister organisation has launched ‘Synergy Dance at Home’

Synergy Dance Ltd have created an online portal called ‘Synergy Dance at Home’ 

Parents can sign up their kids for Synergy dance courses online today. This will allow children to keep up their dance activities at home as part of their #DanceAtHome initiative and is open to all. There is also the option to join a Synergy Dance club Facebook group to tell them what you need, connect with other parents and keep some connection at these times of increased isolation – https://www.facebook.com/SynergyDanceLtd/

Freedom Leisure and Synergy want to support as many families as possible during this time – to keep the kids active and fit through online dance and yoga activities.
To see a teacher’s talent in action – take a look here!

 https://vimeo.com/369548417

We wish you all the best at this difficult time and hope you are staying fit and well.

 

Here is the link to the Synergy Dance page: 

https://synergy-dance-online.teachable.com/  

for you to login and enroll on the course.