Inclusive dance for happiness and health
Flamingo Chicks is a multi-award-winning charity and inclusive community that gives disabled children and children with long-term health conditions like cancer the chance to explore movement through dance. What started as a small community group in 2013 has grown into a national movement championing inclusion. So far, 47,778 children have danced with us!
Project Overview
Disabled children face significant barriers to being active, with 41% remaining inactive and obesity rates 38% higher than their peers. They also face a loneliness epidemic, with45% regularly feeling lonely.
Flamingo Chicks is changing this. Dance is more than movement—it’s a powerful tool for social connection, confidence, and wellbeing.
🦩 81% of children see improved physical wellbeing
🦩 88% gain confidence and resilience
🦩 88% of schools saw anincrease in emotional wellbeing (23% increase on last year)
🦩78% of professionals felt they had learnt new techniques from us, with 95% going on to implement them in their own practice
How We’re Making a Difference
In 2024, we broke new ground:
🦩 We took over 10 Downing Street, Heathrow Airport, the Science Museum, and the Eden Project, advocating for inclusion in iconic spaces.
🦩 12,455 children joined our inclusive dance sessions, bringing our total to 47,778 Flamingo Chicks!
🦩 Nearly 10,000 children participated in our on-demand virtual class, featuring Olympians and Paralympians.
🦩 88% of Flamingo Chicks felt pride as performers, and 81% saw improved physical wellbeing.
🦩 We launched Sparkle Squads, adding costumes, giant props, and new sensory experiences to classes.
What’s Next?
We’re keeping up the momentum in 2025 with our ‘Nature & Conservation’ theme, integrating learning and sustainability into all sessions with the help of conservation experts.
How You Can Help
We’re raising £20,000 to bring dance to 12,000 disabled children in 2025.
Your support will help us:
🦩 Deliver inclusive classes, workshops, a tour, and a free on-demand virtual class.
🦩 Support parents and carers with educational and supportive events.
🦩 Train more teachers and professionals to share best practices.
🦩 Advocate for inclusion with powerful campaigns.
Where Your Donations Will Go:
🦩 £4,000 could fund 40“Wonder Workshops” – immersive, sensory-packed dance experiences in special schools, hospitals, and hospices.
🦩 £6,500 could fund our Volunteer Coordinator for 6 months – growing our award-winning intergenerational volunteer programme, uniting older adults, disabled volunteers, and children through dance.
🦩 £2,500 could fund a Teacher Development Day – training our expert teachers to deliver the highest quality sessions and share techniques with professionals in education, health, and social care.
🦩 £2,400 could fund a term of regular dance classes – creating lasting impact on speech, coordination, muscle tone, and confidence for children in four different settings.
🦩 £2,420 could support our Agents of Change programme – empowering young disabled leaders covering monthly meetings plus sensory materials to hone confidence and leadership development.
🦩 £2,180 would pay forour essential costs like insurance, DBS checks to ensure our children are safe,uniforms and accountancy.
Why This Matters
Disabled children face significant barriers to being active, with 41% remaining inactive and obesity rates 38% higher than their peers. They also face a loneliness epidemic, with45% regularly feeling lonely.
Flamingo Chicks is changing this. Dance is more than movement—it’s a powerful tool for social connection ,confidence, and wellbeing.
Check out the live projects we're supporting
Alex Wish Duchenne Virtual Ward Project
Alex's Wish is a charity dedicated to conquering Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. A progressive, life-limiting muscle-wasting disease that affects 1 in every 3,500 boys born. We are a family-run charity, set-up by Alex's parents 13 years ago after discovering there is not enough funding going into medical research to find treatments and a cure for those living with Duchenne in the UK.
Rainbows Hospice Gardens
Rainbows cares for hundreds of families every year who have a baby, child or young person with a serious or terminal illness that means that their lives will be shorter than most. We support every baby, child and young person to fulfil their potential, and help families make the most of every precious moment, while capturing memories and keepsakes to treasure. We’re here for the whole family, offering comfort and compassion during tough times, providing the highest level of professional care until the end, and support after. Simply put, we’re here to brighten short lives, and support families, wherever they are.
Forever Stars
Forever Stars is a registered charity run by volunteers, dedicated to supporting families experiencing baby loss, including early miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss. We offer compassionate assistance from the time families are in the hospital and throughout their lifelong journey of grief. Our services are available to all family members, regardless of when they seek support, whether immediately after their loss or many years later.
