From Birsay to Eday: A September of Movement, Connection and Community

September has been another whirlwind of a month!

We had an incredible time at the BBC Radio Scotland Make a Difference Awards. (The Orcadian published a fantastic feature about it too.) It was such an honour to have been invited and shortlisted, and to meet so many inspiring people quietly making a difference every single day. To come home with a Highly Commended award in the Active category was a real 'pinch me' moment. It was very special to see Orkney Dance & Fitness recognised like this and to come back and share the news with our community here.

This month, we were delighted to welcome 70 people a week (on average) to Active Movers across 3 rural community classes. Extra equipment bought with the community mental health and wellbeing fund has helped the class grow, while the PAYG and just turn up booking option keeps the entry point flexible and removes any digital barrier to people attending classes.

RetroFitMix was also back with a bang, bringing retro music, modern movement and a brilliant supportive atmosphere.

Then, on the 19th, Bev and I had a 5:30am start, travelling via Stronsay and Sanday, to take ODAF to Eday. We attended a wellbeing café, did some RetroFitMix/rebounder movement finished off by a taster of Fitness Pilates. One older gentleman joined in with us, and the welcome from the Pilates group meant such a lot.

It was another reminder of the importance of rural and island access. We don’t want people to feel they have to be “fit enough” or travel miles before they can begin. Sometimes the first step is simply coming into a familiar hall and joining in for a few minutes.

Back on the mainland...

Beginners’ line dancing returned to Stromness with new and returning dancers. It was extra exciting to be heading back to Stromness Community Centre because I used to teach here before Covid. As it was Dolly Day, we obviously had to include “9 to 5” and “Islands in the Stream”!

The next morning, RetroFitMix was back—and Bev led the warm-up for the first time while studying for her Level 2 Exercise to Music qualification. Watching people grow in confidence, whether they are joining their first class or leading part of one, is very special.

It's also been a joy to share some of my own experience with people looking to start their own projects. I had the opportunity to speak at a free event run by Firstport. Having been through four of Firstport's programmes since I started my journey, I know firsthand what a difference their support can make.

We received a £30,000 interest-free Step Up loan from Firstport and in their recent case study on ODAF, they confirmed the difference it made - supporting the purchase of our outreach van, digital equipment and increased staffing. The session run by Freeport in Kirkwall was for people who have an idea or project they’d like to start in their community. It was a great chance for people to learn and ask questions, and I loved meeting others who are looking to make things happen here in Orkney.

Of course, it's not just adults who want to make a difference. There are plenty of young people in our community who are currently thinking about their purpose and calling in life. When I was invited to be at the Orkney Careers Fair on 1st October, I obviously had to say yes. I'm always excited to talk to people about how movement and fitness can make a genuine contribution to the thriving of our local area .

We are so proud to be a part of what is happening in our community and to see Orkney Dance & Fitness go from strength to strength.

And yet we also continue to face some of the very real challenges involved in rural delivery of exercise classes. We are no longer running Shapinsay’s Active Movers following low attendance. Meanwhile our other regular ODAF classes are now reaching capacity. Full classes are a great problem to have! But it does mean that for sustainable growth, we will require more instructors, volunteers and delivery capacity.

We have so many plans and hopes for Orkney Dance & Fitness. We had the chance to dream together with our community at the Dounby Kirk open day at the end of this month. We opened the doors at the former United Free Church in Dounby to share our vision for Thrive Orkney Studio.

If you missed it, the gist of things is that we want to create a welcoming community space at Dounby Kirk where people can move, connect and feel supported — with activities and opportunities for different ages and abilities, and room for local ideas to grow. We obviously want this space to reflect the people who might use it, so the open evening was a chance to hear from the community.

Bev did a brilliant. job presenting ODAF’s journey, and sharing more about our governance and vision. Over 50 people came and it was so good to see their enthusiasm for our plans and to hear some of their ideas too.

So what's next?

The next phase of this project, as we reflect on the ideas everyone shared, will be to work with Rural Solutions Ltd. to get funding for a feasibility study.

October is also shaping up to be an exciting and busy month. On Saturday 3rd October we head to Kirkwall to run a Glow Girls dance workshop for girls aged 8-12 years old, followed by a more relaxed Pilates and Prosecco event later on that day for the more grown up girls! We are also really pleased that Orkney Islands Council has commissioned us for ODAF’s Family Learning Days on 19th and 23rd October.

As well as this, Inclusive Orkney has booked a candlelit Pilates for parents and carers at the Peedie Kirk in December. We'll of course continue to run our usual classes and we'll keep you updated as we step forward with our projects and plans for the future.

At Orkney Dance and Fitness, we love helping you to learn, move, and have fun in a safe, friendly community. If you're looking for a class that's right for you, check out our timetable here. We love welcoming new folk to our classes!