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In the latest instalment of our "A Day In The Life Series" we met with Avril Hitman, the Founder and Artistic & Executive Director of Magpie Dance, a locally based contemporary dance charity for people with learning disabilities which she founded in 1985.
Avril, a committed advocate for participatory and inclusive dance with a goal to provide equal opportunities for people to express themselves creatively, regardless of their ability, originally started working with a small group of adults with learning disabilities, delivering a 45 minute weekly session at the Astley Centre, Bromley with the help of two dedicated volunteers.
She trained as a dance teacher and taught ballet, modern and tap for a number of years before starting to work with people with learning disabilities. Over the years her role has changed greatly, from personally delivering sessions, setting up projects and raising funds for the charity, she now heads up the team that delivers over 270 sessions a year for over 200 people with learning disabilities
There are 3 employed staff members as well as part–time finance and development functions and a delivery team of 20 freelancers (including facilitators and musicians); the turnover is around £330K in 2015/16 all of which needs to be raised each year as none of this investment is regular.
Avril’s job is definitely not the standard 9-5! There is evening and occasional weekend work as well as daytimes. Avril is involved in several different aspects of Magpie’s work including;
• Visiting Magpie’s regular sessions to see how the practical work is going; it could be an adult community class, a youth or adult group session, a session at Oxleas NHS trust for people with challenging behaviour or Highfliers – a training and performance programme for exceptional dancers with learning disabilities.
• Heading a team meeting for our office staff, Finance Manager and Head of Development and Partnerships to ensure that everyone is up to speed with recent developments.
• Holding a team meeting with freelance facilitators to discuss a specific topic, e.g. how Magpie ensure that we are monitoring and evaluation the progress of our participants, or discussing and planning a future performance or event that is taking place.
• Attending meetings locally and in London with potential funders and consultants that will be delivering work for Magpie e.g. planning an awayday with trustees and the senior management team or discussing a recent funding application with Magpie’s Head of Development and Partnerships.
• Attending networking events or meetings across the UK to make sure that Magpie has a voice and the inclusive dance sector is represented.
• Visiting potential partnership people organisations or performance venues that Magpie will consider working with as part of the charity’s strategic development.
• Planning and delivering some of Magpie’s training sessions for organisations who would like to learn more about how to work inclusively; this has included the metropolitan police on Disability Hate Crime.
• Making sure that as many people as possible are aware that Magpie has brought an opportunity for individuals of all ages with a learning disability to have a meaningful role in the creative arts; it is not a ‘one size fits all’ but a realisation of the potential that exists in each person to progress their skills way beyond the expected.
• Reporting to Magpie’s trustees at board meetings five times each year; checking that we have all the required skills, knowledge and expertise represented at board level.
• Leaving space and time to consider where Magpie is heading over the next 10, 20, 30 years.
• Lastly but by no means least: enjoying her work!
To find out more about Magpie Dance click on this link.