The Y.E.S Project in Crawley

Who are we? 

Marina Studios Foundation are proud to be supporting the Y.E.S project in Crawley.

The Y.E.S Project uses the power of Dance and Movement initiatives to engage and empower disadvantaged young people with fewer opportunities in life to overcome their challenges, make connections, aim high, and reach their potential. Through sessions designed by young people, Y.E.S Projects help participants develop key skills such as leadership, teamwork, creativity and improved confidence levels.

The Y.E.S Project has been running in Crawley since 2021, with original “pilot” projects fully funded by our supporters in order to keep these free to our participants.

Our aim is for these sessions to be sustained and driven by young people.

The young people we engage with weekly are not satisfied with their project coming to an end due to funding and came to us asking if they could run different events to help raise support for their Y.E.S projects to continue. This support will ensure the Y.E.S project is free to those who attend. This is key, as many of our dancers would not be able to access dance if not via their free Y.E.S project sessions due to a number of different barriers.

To find out more about our journey in Crawley, please see our new impact video: https://dancehub.uk/journey/. 

 What does the Y.E.S project mean to the young people of Crawley?

100% of our Youth Voice Group said that they were willing to give up their own time to plan, organise and deliver events to help keep their Y.E.S project running.

From our recently surveyed Crawley participants:

79% said that Y.E.S has helped to improve their confidence

70% that the Y.E.S project has helped them to believe in themselves more

60% that it has helped to improve their mental health.

100% said that Y.E.S project has helped to improve their skills (dance, social, leadership and teamwork).

These results prove to us just how much the Y.E.S project benefits our young people.

"[The Y.E.S project] challenges me and pushes me to be better at what I like. It has helped me to be more active and make new friends. It helps release my anger and gain confidence with my dance. I have always loved it (dance) but never pursued it until now" - Crawley Y.E.S Dancer"

What will your support do? 

All donations made will go straight into our Y.E.S project fund which will help to cover teacher costs and venue hire to keep our sessions free for the young people to attend, as well extras, such as T-shirts, Dance Leaders Level 2 Qualifications and more.