Parents and toddlers are putting their best feet forward to raise money for Swindon SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society) with a glitzy under-fives ball in December.
Sling Swing Swindon is a dance group for parents, babies and toddlers. Initiated by Amy Chapel four years ago, Amy now runs three classes across Swindon including one group at Christ the Servant Church in Abbey Meads.
To raise money for a charity close to her heart, Amy will be hosting a Sling Swing 'U5's Snowflake Ball' at the church, 15 December. All the money raised with be donated to Swindon SANDS.
Amy said: "I had a stillborn baby in 2015 and I had a lot of help from SANDS, – our local Swindon branch – and they were amazing.
"I’ve always wanted to do something to give something back, but I’ve never quite known what to do - until now. The idea is that everyone comes as a family, we’ll do some dancing, we’ll do some sensory activities, people can have their photos taken and there will be refreshments – just a lovely two hours raising money for charity."
The primary aim for Amy's classes is to bring mothers together to create close connections with their children as well as other mothers from the community.
Amy said: "We get mums of all sorts of ages, – our youngest mum is 21 and we’ve got some mums in their mid 40s – but they’ve all got the same thing in common: they’re mums
"I try and aim it more at ladies who have post-natal depression – getting them out of the house, getting them exercising, getting them socialising and just to chat to others about general wellbeing.
"Sling Swing isn't just a normal baby group where you turn up to your class and then leave - we get tea, coffee and the children can stay and play while the parents chat. That’s what makes us different."
Hannah Maxwell, a Swing Sling attendee and Snowflake Ball co-organiser, joined after her first term. She said: "It’s fantastic for wellbeing, socialising and keeping fit – but our children can also interact with other people as well. Everybody is very welcoming."
Amy added: "Coming to class just makes me happy, – seeing all the mums and the babies – so I really benefit in that way because I go home literally on cloud nine after every session because I’m just so pleased that everyone else has had a nice time.
"If all goes well we plan to do a bigger event next year."
As well as the Sling Swing classes Christ the Servant Church is on a mission to open its doors to the wider community. Chris German has been a Pioneer Worker at the church for nearly two years and wants to encourage the Swindon community to utilise the space more in order for residents to reconnect with one another - a key example for her is Sling Swing Swindon.
Chris said: "When I first started working here one of the first things I observed is that people came into this building to use it, - just for a class – and that’s all it was. So, I really wanted to build the idea that you could stay afterwards and talk to the other people at your class with you – bond, and build the idea that this is a family and community place. This is a place to belong.
"Because this is a new housing estate, for me, there’s a real disconnect between people – we’re trying to say, ‘this is your community place to use’.
"I think people buy into what the builders offer which is nice glossy pictures of lovely streets with people walking up and down, but you have to be out of your house and be those people in the street that talk to each other to make that work."
For further information about Swing Sling Swindon, visit the group's Facebook page www.facebook.com/slingswingswindon
For further information about Sling Swing's Under 5s Snowflake Ball visit www.facebook.com/events/1292559907552038/
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