Sid likes to dance and now he and other children like him can carry on doing so


An arts initiative that helps children like 11-year-old Sid Cuthbertson, who has autism but loves to dance, has just secured funding for a further three years.

Arts Connect has operated in Newcastle for five years and is an initiative delivered by the city council’s arts development team.

It works with children and young people in the city who have special educational needs and disabilities, introducing them to creative activities such as painting, drawing, photography, acting, singing and dance.

It works with organisations including Dance City, Newcastle City Library, the Laing Art Gallery, Scotswood Natural Community Gardens, Sage Gateshead, Live Theatre, Northern Stage, Tyneside Cinema and Circus Central.

Now, thanks to an early intervention grant secured through the council’s children with disabilities team, it is able to carry on the good work.

Over the years Arts Connect has organised a series of influential projects involving about 50 creative professionals and more than 250 young people.

Among them has been Sid, from South Gosforth, who has a 13-year-old brother called Ben and whose parents are Helen, a research student, and Anthony, a gardener.

He has been involved with the scheme for several years, starting with a session called Hang Out and Dance at Dance City which offers the chance to use trapeze and hammocks.

This is still a favourite but Sid has also moved on to a hip-hop class at Dance City, meeting new people in the process.

His mum says: “For us, the greatest benefit has been watching Sid find activities that are about his interests and seeing him confidently engage in new things with increasing independence.

“Arts Connect can offer a starting point for children to find their own social interests.

“It gives them the chance to try new opportunities.

“Life demands a lot of children nowadays and being able to find an interest and try things out, meet friends and share activities is really important, especially when you have additional communication or physical challenges.”

From dance, Sid moved into music and took part in a project called Junk Music which started with the children making musical instruments and ended with them recording their own CD.

Helen Cuthbertson adds: “It’s really important to give all children the chance to explore new experiences.

“There are so many different aspects of the arts that cut across barriers and can offer an inclusive, fun and active time.

“We’re able to see how important friendship and social interaction is for Sid and understand him better as an individual.

“I believe that creative opportunities are fantastic for helping children feel connected and I would like to think that the children and people that Sid meets through these activities will respect his place in the community as he grows up.

“Having autism can present some additional barriers to Sid accessing events and activities but he is a happy and dynamic part of our community and people can learn a lot from his enthusiasm.”

Sid says: “I like to dance so much and run about. Hang out and Dance is my favourite because I swing in the trapeze with my friends.”

Brother Ben notes that the dance classes make Sid more relaxed. “The Hang Out and Dance is like a stepping stone so he’s been able to start hip-hop and be more independent.”

Coun Joanne Kingsland, the city council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “Art is a great way of communicating.

“Young people use it as a means of expressing themselves, the beauty being it can be on the canvas, on the dance floor, in song or on stage – the options are endless.

“Programmes like Arts Connect always put the young people first, by putting their interests and wellbeing at the heart of the work.

“The results speak for themselves, as families, friends and teachers are noticing the social and academic impact that introducing the arts into somebody’s life can make to their awareness, health and self-confidence.”

Funding Press Release