Y.E.S Project Wins Community Engagement Award at Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards 2024

The Y.E.S Project (Youth Empowered Space), a dance initiative based in Brighton, Crawley, and Hastings, has won the Community Engagement Award at the Sussex Sport & Physical Activity Awards.

The award ceremony, which took place on November 28, 2024, at the 1st Central Ground in Hove, recognised the project’s impactful work in engaging and empowering young people through inclusive dance and movement.

The project helps young people overcome challenges, build connections, and reach their potential while developing skills like leadership, teamwork, creativity, and dance techniques.

Last year, the Y.E.S Project engaged over 360 young people across Sussex as regular participants, with an additional 300 young people benefiting from engagement sessions in partnership with local schools and community organisations. 

A recent survey found that 86 per cent of participants have no access to regular dance and movement classes if not for The Y.E.S Project, highlighting the vital role the initiative plays in the lives of these young people.

Jade Hand, from The Y.E.S Project, said: “Through regular feedback, Youth Voice meetings, and connecting with The Play Their Way campaign, we ensure that the sessions we design are driven by the young people themselves. 

“Listening to the Y.E.S Project community and acting upon their feedback means putting disadvantaged young people in charge of their own journey.

“The youth voice-centred approach means that Y.E.S truly listens to the young community and provides them with the physical activity sessions they want.”

In Crawley, five young people have taken on teaching assistant roles, providing guidance and support to their peers while gaining invaluable leadership experience. 

The Y.E.S Project’s focus on youth-led initiatives ensures that participants are not just learning dance, but are also developing essential life skills that will serve them long after they leave the programme.

The success of the Y.E.S Project’s approach to community engagement is a testament to the power of listening to young people and providing them with the tools and opportunities they need to thrive. The award highlights the organisation’s commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of young people across Sussex.

For more information about The Y.E.S Project and how it is transforming the lives of young people through dance, please visit https://dancehub.uk/