The Boston & Nailour Tenants & Residents Association (TRA), have been supported for the last five years by Sport Islington, to run a weekly line dancing session on a Tuesday evening. The sessions regularly attract up 30 attendees to a community hall on Blundell Street N7. For the majority of the ladies who attend each week, it is the only form of rigorous exercise that they undertake on a regular basis. The line dancing sessions are not just a physical activity for the women who attend, they are a chance to meet other local people in a relaxed and inclusive setting. For some of the attendees, the Tuesday night sessions are the only time they will leave their homes after dark in the winter. Viv White of Boston & Nailour TRA, explained why the sessions were so important, not just for the health benefits but also for the social benefits to the participants; ‘Dancing is a happy physical sport and the health benefits are tremendous. While we are at the sessions, we do not worry about the stresses of life, for many of our members the sessions have been a life-saver. Not only do they feel healthier but they have socialised with people from all walks of life’. The line dancing sessions are an example of the sort of activity that Sport Islington is willing to fund. The participants are considered ‘non-traditional participants’ or a ‘hard to reach group’, the sessions are continuous and are in an accessible venue (near to the resident’s homes and accessible to people with disabilities), the organisation applying for funding (the TRA) are constituted with a managing committee and independent bank account.
