support Poppin Ollie's fundraiser

Let me introduce you to my son Ollie. He is a 20-year-old Dancer from Plymouth, Devon, also known as Poppin Ollie.

At the age of five Ollie was diagnosed with Autism and has since faced day-to-day challenges. He has always loved dance since discovering Diversity at age four and wanted to be like them, dancing at every opportunity he could.

His chosen dance style is Poppin however, unfortunately, due to bullies during his teen years, he became withdrawn, hated life and found things pretty tough. He still had a love for dance, but it was clear that something was missing. Ollie's confidence then worsened when his previous dance teacher said that his lack of communication would prevent him from going further with his dance career. As a young adult with Autism, communication can cause barriers for Ollie, so this came a massive blow and he no longer believed in himself.

Two years ago, Ollie discovered Rhythm City Dance Studio in Plymouth and began to attend weekly sessions. From the first time he walked into the studio with his head down, and hoodie up, and rarely interacted with anyone, we have seen a massive change in him. It's taken a long time but with the commitment, outstanding support and understanding from everyone at Rhythm City, Ollie has learnt to trust and accept that people truly believe in him and his ability as a dancer.

Watching Ollie find his confidence and seeing him believe in himself again makes my heart smile.

Ollie has recently been selected to perform as a guest artist at the Young Creatives Showcase, as part of the U Dance National Festival 2024. This is the largest festival of its kind and it's a celebration that brings talented young dancers together.

The Young Creatives Showcase spotlights the next generation of dance makers as young choreographers from across the UK premiere their stunning performances.

It is an honour for Ollie to be given this opportunity, not only to represent his region with a piece he choreographed himself but to be able to raise awareness that even people with autism can still achieve amazing things. Especially when they are understood and not put into a box where one size fits all.

Neurodiverse young people and adults need to be able to participate in events such as these. It allows them to feel accepted alongside other dancers within the dance community. It helps to build a culture of acceptance, empathy and inclusivity by encouraging those with autism to share their own stories, promote change and create a positive shift in society's perspective of what it means to be autistic.

We have set up this fundraising page to try and raise funds to make all of this possible for Ollie. Living in Devon the cost of travel and accommodation towards attending this event in Liverpool is very expensive.

As a parent, I feel Ollie would be able to progress further in his dance career if he was given more opportunities.

Dance is a huge part of Ollie's life; it makes him feel accepted and allows him to express himself to others through dance.

Any support to help Ollie follow his dreams would be amazing. Thank you

Much love Emma (Mum) and Poppin Ollie.