A FUNDRAISING event was held in aid of the volunteer led group ‘Dancetime4all’ at Bridges Community Centre with the help of a paid dance instructor.

Ann Stevens who is a volunteer at Dancetime4all organised the fundraising event and her company, Woodbrook designs sponsored the evening to raise money for the group.

An estimated guide of £1,000 was raised at the fundraising event and will be going towards the dance group at the community centre in Monmouth.

Volunteers at Dancetime4all have a role of running the afternoon of dance by welcoming newcomers, making tea, chatting, listening and getting people up to dance, making it an empowering, rewarding and enjoyable experience, increasing awareness of the benefits of this activity for all involved.

It is held from 1.45pm until 3.15pm every Thursday at the Bridges Community Centre with an average attendance of 30 participants.

The session welcomes anyone from the local community, and they work closely with other organisations like: Monnow Vale hospital, social services groups based at Bridges Community Centre, local care homes and Overmonnow school SEN dept.

Most of the members have physical and mental illnesses, including dementia. They aim to help people gain confidence and a feeling of wellbeing.

The group offers an opportunity for some people who might feel isolated in the community a chance to enjoy themselves in a social situation, giving them a sense of inclusion.

Monnow Marquees provided a marquee for free for the fundraising event, Windmill Hill fruits Ltd fruit farm gave all the berries for free, Hancock's butchers provided discounted meat, Bloom Room provided a vase of flowers for the raffle, Waitrose donated a candle and chocolates for the raffle, Mr Taxis in Monmouth donated his cab fee, and volunteers from the dance group gave raffle prizes and hampers and their time.

One of the volunteers at Dancetime4all said: “I volunteer at Dancetime4all at Bridges every Thursday afternoon and we are fundraising now because we are run totally by volunteers.”

“We pay for our professional dance instructor who is also an amazing volunteer in her own way and for the hall. We let everyone come for free, we provide the dance but also lots of cake, biscuits and drinks afterwards.”

“It’s a bit of a social laugh, everyone has fun and everyone goes away happy.”

Ann Stevens, organiser of the event said: “I can’t believe how lucky I am to have so many good people in my life that came to support us tonight and extra people who aren’t here and people from away have sent me money and the donations have been flowing in from local tradespeople, friends and family.

“It’s just been wonderful, right down to the taxi driver tonight who gave his money for it.”

“It's just so wonderful to see how people can get involved in local charities. Such a small little group but it means such a lot to those people.”

“The best two hours for me in a week to see their faces, I love it.”