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The Charity Commission for Northern Ireland
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Friends of 'The Reid School of Dancing'

  • Removed

  • This charity was removed from the register on 9 May 2018
Charity no. 104736 Date registered. 30/08/2016

Public benefits

The benefit that flows from the purpose is the promotion of enjoyment, better understanding and general advancement of the arts and sciences, in particular the art and science of Irish dance, stepdance and ceili dance for the benefit of general public in Northern Ireland, and further participation in international competitions. The benefit is

obtained through exposure to and participation in, as participants or as audience members in the art and science of dance and dance drama. These benefits are evidenced through regular internal assessment and externally through participation in formal competitions, including internationally. The benefits are also evidenced by regular collation of quantitative data on charitable activities, photo and video documentation, regular reporting of charitable activities and financial performance in annual reports. The possibility of harm, for example by physical injury by participation by dance, is mitigated by proper teaching of dance steps and movements and is outweighed by the benefit and significantly reduced by the policies and procedures in place to address risks, for example safeguarding and child protection policy, health and safety policy and code of conduct for teachers and volunteers. The charities beneficiaries are the general public in Northern Ireland and occasionally outside Northern Ireland by participation in international competitions. Specific projects include that the proceeds from the annual Class Feis are donated to the Northern Ireland Hospice.

What your organisation does

In order to achieve its objective Friends of ‘The Reid School of Dancing’ undertake the following functions:- The Reid School of Dancing foster a spirit of class unity and co-operation with our pupils and parents. Our pupils are always learning and developing, on and off the dance floor. The teachers devise and implement schemes for the

dissemination of accurate information concerning Irish dancing (step dancing, ceili dancing and other team dancing) by providing advice and by any other suitable means. They also co-operate with other organisations which promote dancing, music education or culture. The pupils have the opportunity of Grade Exams and participation of competitions to World Championship level. The Reid School of Dancing has a nominated charity, NI Hospice. The school’s annual class feis held in November is a charity feis with all proceeds donated to the Hospice. This helps instil a sense of social awareness among the children. The teachers, children and parents work incredibly hard planning, preparing and participating in the event to support this very worthy cause.

The charity’s classifications

  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of citizenship or community development
  • The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
  • The advancement of amateur sport

Who the charity helps

  • Children (5-13 year olds)
  • General public
  • Volunteers
  • Youth (14-25 year olds)

How the charity works

  • Arts
  • Cross-border/cross-community
  • Cultural
  • Sport/recreation
  • Volunteer development
  • Youth development

Charitable purposes

The objective of ‘Friends of the Reid School of Dancing’ is to preserve and promote Irish Dancing including step-dancing, and ceili dancing for the benefit of the general public (especially, but not exclusively, children and young people aged 4-18 years) in Newtownabbey and its environs of the Greater North Belfast area by promoting public awareness of, and appreciation for all forms of traditional Irish dance and health benefits arising from it, by means of public dance displays, and by the provision of encouragement and practical assistance to any children or young people in the area of benefit as to enable them to participate in Irish Dancing who are in need of such assistance by reason of their social or economic circumstances; and for the advancement of Irish Dancing as an amateur sport, for the promotion of physical fitness, self confidence and team working.