Teaching TikTok dances to sheltered housing residents in project that bridged generational divide

Young performers went on a week-long tour around the district’s sheltered housing centres in a project that aimed to bridge generational divides. South Holland District Council’s communities team joined forces with Diamondz Dance and Adults Move Lincolnshire to take the Echoes project on tour. The scheme aimed to help reduce isolation among residents of sheltered accommodations while simultaneously offering young people an opportunity to develop social and emotional skills.

The project brought together eight enthusiastic young performers who visited five different sheltered housing centres in total. They taught residents dances made popular from the social media app TikTok and discussed music and dance trends across the generations Coun Gary Taylor, district portfolio holder for community development, said: “I am immensely proud of the Echoes project and the positive impact it has had on our community. “This initiative is a shining example of how we can bridge the gap between generations and bring people together through shared experiences like dance and music.



“It's heartwarming to see our young people and sheltered housing residents connecting, learning from each other, and building a stronger, more cohesive community. “Projects like this remind us of all of the power of collaboration and the importance of fostering connections that enrich the lives of everyone involved. “I look forward to supporting more initiatives like this in the future, as they truly make a difference in our district.

" The tour visited Sezanne Walk Community Centre in Spalding , Hargate Close Community Centre in Fleet Hargate, Lyndis Walk Community Centre in Holbeach , Spring Gardens Community Centre in Long Sutton, and Lime Court Community Centre in Spalding. At each location, the residents were not just spectators but active participants, joining in the dances and sharing their experiences. The project was made possible through grant funding from Efficiency East Midlands — and sparked rave reviews from residents who described is ‘as good as a bottle of medicine’, ‘very, very uplifting’ and ‘lovely’ in feedback to the council.

.