A DANCE organisation which strives to inspire young people, adults and those with disabilities across the county has received £75,000 to help it transition to a new normal post-Covid.

Cheshire Dance is among more than 2,700 recipients to benefit from the latest round of awards from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund.

More than £800 million in grants and loans has already been awarded to support almost 3,800 cinemas, performance venues, museums, heritage sites and other cultural organisations dealing with the immediate challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.

Cheshire Dance, which has a head office in Winsford, operates across Cheshire East, and Cheshire West and Chester.

The major grant will go a long way to ensuring its three key groups of young people, older adults and those with disabilities once again have unrestricted access to the art form in Cheshire.

Adam Holloway, director of Cheshire Dance said: "With investment through the Cultural Recovery Fund, we are #HereForCulture.

"It means as soon as restrictions allow, we will be welcoming back our dancing communities to face-to-face sessions.

"As always, we will do this safely and with particular regard to those who face inequalities in their everyday lives, as this is of critical importance to the whole team and board at Cheshire Dance.

"Furthermore, this fund also means that we can invest in the artists whose role in society we champion and who are #NeverMoreNeeded.

"To all the many hundreds of dancers connected to Cheshire Dance, see you soon!"

Throughout the pandemic, the organisation has been a frontline service that has been highly valued by the communities that it supports.

Despite lockdown restrictions and periods with social distancing – and despite the absence of its live programme – between 2020 and 2021 Cheshire Dance was still able to deliver 10,713 community participation experiences through 1,300 creative sessions, largely online.

More than 90 per cent of its dance experiences during the Covid crisis targeted vulnerable groups in the community – particularly those facing inequalities and/or with protected characteristics.

With this grant Cheshire Dance will focus on re-engaging its participants and audiences and will relaunch its community programme safely and effectively to ensure everyone everywhere once again has access to dance.

In the same manner, the organisation will continue to support the freelance artists that deliver its extensive programme in communities, who have felt the full force of the pandemic on their income.

The funding, which was awarded this month is from a £400 million pot which was held back last year to ensure the Culture Recovery Fund could continue to help organisations in need as the public health picture changed.

It has been awarded by Arts Council England, as well as Historic England and National Lottery Heritage Fund and the British Film Institute.