Saracens Cheer and Dance is a project within the Saracens Foundation’s dance area, offering alternative sport and exercise to children aged 6+ in North London and Hertfordshire, improving their health, wellbeing as well as giving them an opportunity to develop social and communication skills.
After being contacted by Dr. Dickson informing them of a young asylum seeker suffering with her mental and physical health due to inactivity, Saracens Foundation offered Rounia an NHS scholarship on their Cheerleading project for a term. Her mother told us, “we were looking for a place that Rounia could go to for exercise, but because we’re asylum seekers we do not have enough money.”
Asylum seekers are people who have arrived in a country and asked for help due to unliveable conditions, however until they’ve received a decision as to whether they are a ‘refugee’ they aren’t allowed work or claim benefits. If they apply for support, they may receive financial help of around £5.66 per day.
Lauren Dickson from the NHS contacted us in June 2021 telling us, “I have a patient who has a daughter who is 7 years and is struggling with her Mental Health. They we’re recently referred to me as were interested in Physical Exercise. However, her mother cannot afford activities due to not having access to public resources. Her daughter used to participate in gymnastic lessons, however, her school do not offer any afterschool clubs.”
Rounia told her GP she had a passion for dance and gymnastics and so offering her an NHS scholarship at Saracens Cheerleading for a term was a perfect opportunity for her. The Head Coach for Saracens Cheer and Dance at StoneX Stadium said “When Rounia joined Cheerleading in September she was passionate and energetic throughout the sessions despite them being physically demanding for a prolonged period. When Rounia left us in December she had improved so rapidly that her team won second place prize in their Saracens Cheer and Dance Competition!”
We spoke to Rounia’s parents to find out how our sessions impacted her. She told us, “When we came to England, we were very worried about Rounia. With the support of the Saracens Foundation my daughter was able to come to cheerleading which made her happy. My daughter’s mood improved and we really thank you for that.”
Rounia’s rapid improvement in her physical and mental health was apparent to us all and is testament to how important exercise and movement is for young people. After the pandemic young people are more likely to suffer physically and mentally due to inactivity when compared to previous years. Saracens Foundation are working hard to encourage young people to partake in any form of physical exercise with the primary aim of improving physical and mental health in the community.
Having recently been recognised as an Olympic sport cheerleading is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK. It joins dance, gymnastics, and stunts together to create an athletic sport that is creative and unique. Cheerleading requires athletes of all back grounds and all sizes which makes it arguably one of the most if not, the most inclusive sport. Saracens Cheerleaders and Dancers are given several performance opportunities yearly including performing on Match Days and other events.
Saracens Foundation run Cheer and Dance classes across Hertfordshire and North London for young aspiring athletes 6+. Please contact SapphireFinlayter-Gaskell@saracens.net for further information or visit bookwhen.com/saracenscheeranddance to sign your child up today.