Manchester Community Embraces New Year with Lively Irish Dancing Evening
A vibrant group of Manchester residents ushered in the new year with energy and enthusiasm last week, participating in a special community Irish dancing evening held at the esteemed Irish World Heritage Centre. This complimentary social gathering formed an integral part of the broader Get Moving campaign, a collaborative effort organised in partnership with Yakult and the First Time for Everything initiative.
A Partnership for Health and Wellbeing
First Time for Everything is a dedicated community health and wellbeing programme operated by the Royal Voluntary Service, a prominent national charity. This innovative scheme provides individuals with the valuable opportunity to sample new activities completely free of charge within their local communities. The initiative strongly emphasises social interaction and maintaining physical activity, offering particular benefits to older adults or those with limited mobility who might otherwise face barriers to participation.
Expert Guidance and Inclusive Fun
The evening was expertly led by local dance instructor Christine Matthewson, representing The Claddagh Association of Adult Irish Dance. Christine guided attendees through some fundamental steps and choreographed a delightful, enjoyable routine set to traditional music. The event proved to be a tremendous success, warmly welcoming everyone from absolute beginners to dancers with more prior experience, ensuring all participants could engage fully and enjoy themselves.
Voices from the Event
Reshma Patel, Marketing Manager for Yakult UK and Ireland, commented: "Maintaining an active lifestyle is fundamentally crucial for our overall health and wellbeing. We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with the Royal Voluntary Service to support the Get Moving campaign through First Time for Everything. What could be a more joyful way to commence the new year than by dancing and having fun together with others in the community?"
One attendee, Kim from Manchester, shared her personal experience: "I used to practise Irish dancing as a child but hadn't done it for over fifty years. Although I recalled the basic three and seven steps, it was truly lovely to be reminded of the group dances and how to change direction properly. It brought back wonderful memories."
Karen Kennedy, Activity Coordinator for the Royal Voluntary Service in Manchester, added: "We all relished a fantastic evening filled with dancing, friendly conversation, and laughter. It is always excellent to try something novel, and we are immensely grateful to our long-term partner, Yakult, for supporting such an enjoyable social event and this vital community initiative."
How to Get Involved and Further Opportunities
Individuals interested in registering for a place at future First Time for Everything events or seeking more information are encouraged to contact the local Royal Voluntary Service activity coordinator, Karen Kennedy.
For those unable to attend events in person, the Get Moving with Yakult programme is also accessible through the Virtual Village Hall. This is a free, online activity hub and community space designed by the Royal Voluntary Service to help people stay physically and mentally active, remain socially connected, and continue having fun from the comfort of their own homes.
About the Royal Voluntary Service
The Royal Voluntary Service stands as one of Britain's largest and most respected volunteering charities. Its dedicated volunteers provide essential support to the National Health Service, adult social care services, and thousands of vulnerable individuals within communities across the nation.
The charity's extensive work in local communities includes operating home library services, offering companionship support, facilitating home-from-hospital services, and providing patient transport. Furthermore, its new digital volunteering platform, GoVo, effectively connects volunteers with causes they are passionate about, benefiting charities throughout the country.
