We spoke with Jen Stokes, CEO and Artistic Director of Reside Dance C.I.C., about her experience of being a member of the Health Alliance.
Tell us about Reside Dance C.I.C.
Born out of Reading 2016: Year of Culture and linking to the Reading 2050 vision, award-winning Reside Dance C.I.C. aim to bring individuals and communities together by developing connections to places and others through dance and movement. With a focus on serving the people of Reading, our work addresses health and social issues that are prevalent to Reading life.
Over the past 8 years, our dance movement psychotherapists and professional dance artists have provided performances, sessions and programmes for a range of groups with physical and mental health diagnoses. We have worked with individuals who have experienced musculoskeletal pain, low-level anxiety, stress and depression, and who have recently experienced trauma. We have also worked with young people with physical and learning disabilities, and culturally diverse families from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
After developing a robust socio-choreographic practice and evaluation methodology that evidenced how dance can help domestic abuse survivors feel more at home in refuge and why it might be important for their health and wellbeing, we are keen to expand our work to meeting BOB ICS system goals on mental health. In time, we would also like to discuss potential future system goals on physical health.
What is your role at Reside Dance?
As the CEO and Artistic Director, I serve as the leader of Reside Dance C.I.C., reporting to the Board of Directors. I work in partnership with the Board to ensure that the organisation fulfils its aims, mission and strategic objectives. I have overall responsibility for artistic and strategic development and planning, board support and co-leadership, operational management, financial stewardship, business development and decision-making. I am a co-founder of Reside Dance C.I.C. and I also act as the company’s secretary.
What made you join the alliance?
I joined the Alliance in 2021 because Reside Dance C.I.C. had experienced challenges in becoming a part of Reading’s social prescribing offer. I have been keen to implement and adapt the socio-choreographic practice and evaluation methodology that I developed as part of my Ph.D. for social prescribing and hospital contexts in Reading. I know that our practice and evaluation methods can help to improve health outcomes, tackle health inequalities, provide value for money and support with NHS with broader social and economic development. I hope that being part of the Alliance will become an opportunity to share how dance and arts programmes can help to meet BOB ICS system goals.
In cohesion with the progress being made through the Alliance, Reading Borough Council is also encouraging more partnership working between the arts, culture and heritage sector and the NHS by developing a networking resource for a new creative health centre at Royal Berkshire Hospital.
How has being part of the group helped you and has it increased your understanding of the NHS and Integrated care?
Being involved in the BOB VCSE-ICS Mental Health Action Planning and Mental Health Action Group has highlighted how there has been a disconnect more widely between the health and VCSE sectors too
As part of these meetings, I have understood the policy and strategic context for NHS mental health services and how they are governed and funded within BOB ICS. Relationships between the NHS and VCSE sector are starting to grow though knowledge exchange and meaningful dialogue. I feel that each sector is starting to understand the issues that are affecting one another, and what that means for partnership working.
Have you met new people/ organisations since joining? If so how has that been helpful?
Since taking part in the BOB VCSE-ICS Mental Health Action Planning and Mental Health Action Group meetings, Colostomy UK and Reside Dance C.I.C. have developed a working relationship. We are currently working on an 8-week, online dance and movement programme as part of Active Ostomates, starting in January 2025. The aim of the programme is to improve and maintain the physical health and social and emotional wellbeing of people living with a stoma.
What has surprised you about being part of the alliance?
I don’t think anything has particularly surprised me about being a part of the Alliance as I knew that it would be an informative and worthwhile experience. I have really appreciated the honest conversations that have started to happen between the NHS, the Alliance and the VCSE sector. I hope that they will continue, and we can find a way to work in partnership that is equitable for all.
What would you say if you were to recommend it to others?
I have been actively encouraging members of the Reading Art and Heritage Forum to join the Alliance because it is an opportunity to build relationships with the NHS and understand the issues that are affecting them too. I recommend anyone working in the VCSE sector to join the Alliance if they would like to build better working relationships with the NHS.
