Minister Stephanie Peacock Shines a Spotlight on Young People at Eloquent Dance With A Visit To Our Studios

We were honoured to welcome Stephanie Peacock MP, Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, to Eloquent Dance in Birmingham for a special visit that celebrated young people, creativity and the transformative power of the arts.

The Minister joined us during a festive rehearsal as our dancers prepared for an upcoming Christmas performance a moment that brought energy, passion and community spirit to life right here in Aston.

During her time with us, Minister Peacock met young people from across our programmes and heard firsthand about their journeys from beginner dancers to leaders shaping the future of Eloquent Dance. One standout story was that of Ayanna Knight, who started training with us at age 12 and has now grown into a student teacher, creative and choreographer, as well as a driving force on our Youth Board.

The visit was also an opportunity to highlight the impact of our Youth Investment Fund grant. Thanks to a £470,880 award, Eloquent Dance has been able to renovate and expand our facilities — turning an overcrowded space into a welcoming, purpose-built hub for creativity, wellbeing and community. This investment has increased our weekly youth engagement from 170 to 250 young people, providing more accessible opportunities for young women and girls, disabled young people, and young people from Black and global majority backgrounds.

As Nick Temple OBE, CEO of the Social Investment Business the lead delivery partner for the Youth Investment Fund — said during the visit, Eloquent Dance represents what quality youth work can achieve when young people are empowered to thrive and take ownership of their creative futures. We’re incredibly proud of our young people and grateful for the support that helps make this work possible.

CEO & Artistic Director Romanah Buchanan shared "It's so important for our young people to have opportunities like these to meet MP's and have them meet them where they are, in their safe space where they get to showcase their incredible gifts and talents. We've got big vision and great plans for further growth at Eloquent and young people are at the heart of that vision so it was great to share these plans with Stephanie.

This visit wasn’t just about recognition — it was about amplifying young voices, celebrating their talent, and reinforcing our shared commitment to opportunity, growth and community for every young person who walks through our doors.