A dance company in Brighton and Hove which wants to set up a new project to improve the physical, mental and emotional health of older people in the city has been shortlisted for more than £25,000 of funding from The Jubilee People's Millions (1).

South East Dance has been shortlisted as one of six finalists to go forward to the public vote on ITV regional news to win funding from the People's Millions - an annual grants programme run by the Big Lottery Fund in partnership with ITV - to create and manage a contemporary dance company for people aged 60 or over.

Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas welcomed the news and called for public support for the dance company in the televised vote on Tuesday 28th June. She said:

"It's great news that South East Dance has been shortlisted for this funding and I hope the company receives all the support it deserves when it comes to the final vote.

"The proposed Three Score Dance Company project would be an invaluable asset to Brighton and Hove, helping to improve the health and wellbeing of older members of our community - and, importantly, giving people the opportunity to get involved in the running of the company itself."

ENDS

Notes

1) The Big Lottery Fund and ITV with the approval of Buckingham Palace will be helping mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee through the Jubilee Peoples Millions.

The funding programme is for those groups who have a great idea for a project to inspire their local community, involve local people working together to tackle a problem.

Jubilee Peoples Millions builds on the success of the People's Millions programme which was launched in 2005, and since then it has awarded over £22 million to 388 projects.

2) Projects across the UK will battle it out for the public vote, broadcast across the 18 ITV regions on 27-30 June 2011. At 9am on Tuesday 28th June the voteline phone number for South East Dance will be released and people can begin voting.

For more about Jubilee People's Millions please go to www.peoplesmillions.org.uk. You can also follow Jubilee People's Millions 2011 on twitter.com/peoplesmillions and www.facebook.com/PeoplesMillions