Pictured: Jo O'Sullivan, of Pertemps People Development
Group, celebrates with daughter Eve (centre) and her friend a
fellow Dreamz dancer Robyn Churchill
A Black Country group of young dancers with dreams of becoming
world champions could go one dance step closer thanks to a donation
by generous workers.
Dreamz School of Dance, in Stourbridge, has received £400
from employees of Birmingham-based employment and training experts
Pertemps People Development Group (PPDG).
PPDG operates a Give As You Earn (GAYE) scheme which each year
donates thousands of pounds to charities and other good causes.
Employees make a donation to the scheme each month.
Dreamz was nominated for an award by Jo O'Sullivan, an
employment coach at PPDG in Harborne, Birmingham. Her 13-year-old
daughter Eve is a member of Dreamz and takes part in regular
competitions.
The donation is for travelling expenses and accommodation costs
to take part in a competition - called Diva Divo - taking place in
February in Bridlington. The dancers also hope to take part in the
World Championships Freestyle in Blackpool in June.
Jo said: "The girls are so supportive of each other and so
passionate about their dancing. It seems an incredible shame not to
let them go to the large competitions but in this current economic
climate it really is a struggle.
"I made the nomination as the cost to take part in the major
dance competitions runs into thousands of pounds every time the
girls compete. As moms, we do fundraise and have managed to collect
£400 but the costs still run very high and parents need all
the help they can get. PPDG has matched the amount raised with a
£400 donation which will really help the girls to go on and
realise their dreams of taking part in the major competitions."
Kerry Hill, who owns Dreamz School of Dance, said: "This
donation from PPDG really is a massive boost for the girls. They
are so talented and the money will enable them to fulfill their
dreams of taking part in major competitions. We have one girl
called Robyn Churchill who came third in the World Championships
Freestyle this year and we hope to take a team of girls to go and
compete and do really well."
PPDG's total donations to charities and good causes through its
award-winning payroll-giving scheme recently broke the
£150,000 barrier. Around two thirds of employees are involved
in payroll deductions that benefit others less fortunate in the
community.
For more information about Pertemps People Development Group,
please visit their website here: www.ppdg.co.uk