Ethos: Aaction offers an inclusive and fun place to share current talents and learn new ones, build confidence and have the opportunity to work with a diverse range of individuals and abilities to achieve personal and group growth. Aaction believes every one of us has a unique gift that is waiting to be recognised!

 

Aims: To embrace movement that leads to better posture, health and wellbeing whilst educating participants through arts & crafts (including costume design) on the origins, folklore and history of dance and carnival across the world. 

 

What we offer: Our unique experience offers learning through a variety of media, which aims to meet the widest range of learning styles. The activities are developed to achieve positive outcomes for those attending regularly, acknowledging that achievement will look different for each individual. 

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Aaction CIC has one overall aim – to improve the daily living experiences of different groups that may be considered vulnerable for various reasons.

 

This is achieved through three pathways; movement & celebration (Aaction Dance); Packages that support families & young people who need to prepare for or improve independent living skills (Mino Kitchen@Aaction) and providing much needed support & information to parents at any stage of the looked after children process (Aaction for Parents).

 

Why these groups?

AactionDance 

Our passion is to share our knowledge of movement, so younger generations can benefit from the physical and mental wellbeing that comes with an understanding of our bodies and how to treat them, so we have less potential pain and ill health. Movement lifts the spirits, improving mental wellbeing, as well as increasing confidence in all of us. We hope to access funding to offer subsidised places for children living with disadvantage, as we know the benefits of a regular, extra-curricular activity for children of all ages, and for the parent(s), the opportunity to build social capital through new connections and beginning to regulate family activity – all gains for those struggling with parenting. Everyone gains from the activity that contributes to building better local communities.

 

Mino Kitchen @Aaction

The ethos behind Mino Kitchen is to build families through food. We offer short programmes where families come together to learn how to cook simple meals, learn how to develop savvy shopping skills, to save money whilst offering a varied menu and most importantly, develop their own versions of a meal together, writing up a recipe card that they take away, leaving with six recipes at the end of a programme. The learning will include understanding seasonal foods and local produce, so programmes are different through the year, matching content to the local availability of different foods. Activities are built around the inclusion of all family members, so parents are able to develop skills in communicating and teaching through fun (maths, science and English – all of which is highlighted for parents who attend). Families can choose to pay to attend, but we want to focus on keeping families together, so prioritise any referrals from statutory bodies such as the family courts and local authorities. 

 

Aaction for Parents

Every day, parents begin the journey of the looked after child process. Whether through self-referral or referred by a professional, this process is never easy for those affected. Regardless of the age of the child, the majority of parents have limited knowledge of the system, so feel very out of their depth with no-one to turn to. Aaction for Parents will offer information and support through various activities, talking therapies and signposting to advocacy and legal support, where suitable, at any stage of the journey. The service will also offer parents who have recently received a learning need diagnosis for their child, support in navigating the education and social care system, during a time where everything is overwhelming. Treat days, small support groups to build networks, learning about the legislation & making it accessible, therapeutic approaches and signposting. 

 

Although these are all different, they bring together particular themes – families and communities supporting people to be their best regardless of circumstance, with the provision of services that are currently limited or absent.