PR 8984 Let the music and dance project begin!

Children from 13 schools will benefit from a confidence-boosting project thanks to funding from a Hertfordshire county councillor.

Cllr Chris White (St Albans Central) has donated £3,840 from his locality budget to Nexus Extended Schools, to fund a music, dance and movement group therapy project.

Jo Maher, of Nexus Extended Schools, based at Fleetville Junior School in St Albans, said: “I’m really grateful to Chris White for supporting this project which will enable us to help children who lack confidence, suffer with low self-esteem or are generally struggling at school. Nexus has piloted many projects over the last few years and has experience in setting up systems to help children’s emotional well-being.

“The schools involved are also absolutely delighted to now be in a position to offer these programmes as it means they will be able to learn from the specialist therapy provided, enabling them to continue supporting their children.”

The project is due to run from next February and will involve groups of between four to six pupils at 12 primary schools in the area and at Heathlands Special School.

Fleetville Junior School is the hub school for Nexus – the North East St Albans Extended Schools Consortium. The 17 schools in the consortium work together with an ever increasing list of partners, local and community groups and providers to offer services in North East St Albans.

Cllr White said: “’The importance of music and dance in education are often underestimated. They are not only important in themselves but also form a vital ingredient in a child’s development.”

Locality budgets were launched in July, with funding to be used for worthy social, economic or environmental causes in Hertfordshire. For more information on how to apply, visit www.hertsdirect.org and type ‘locality budgets’ into the search box.

ENDS