Reimagining Safeguarding

We know our dance communities are full of care. We also know we can do better.

Hopeful Mess and Rain Crew invite you to join us on Friday 20 November for a community gathering exploring safeguarding, collective care, and how we want to be together. These sessions will help us create resources to make us better at responding when something happens.

Facilitated by Nzinga, Maren and Clint, we'll explore:

- What safeguarding actually means

- How each of us can help proactively create more caring spaces

- What approaches to safeguarding might look like in decolonised and collectivist communities like the hiphop dance scene.

Artists can often recognise safeguarding concerns including mental health challenges, substance misuse, poverty, grooming and sexual misconduct but not know how to respond or support each other. The dance community is a beautiful and creative place, but many of its challenges often remain unspoken, unaddressed or silenced. No space can ever be truly safe for everyone, but we believe we all have a role to play in taking accountable steps to prevent harm, respond with care and create communities where people feel supported and valued.

Safeguarding is focused on safety and care, not policing. This gathering is not about blame, finger-pointing, or having all the answers. Instead, it is an opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas and, together, begin shaping the kinds of tools needed for creating the environments we want to be part of.

Whether you're a dancer, teacher, organiser, artist, practitioner, parent, or community member, you're warmly invited to join the conversation or just come and listen. Also there will be snacks.

More gatherings and ways to engage will follow.

If you have any questions, concerns or access needs, please contact hello@hopefulmess.com

*This gathering is part of a wider project by Hopeful Mess, supported by Westminster Council, exploring decolonised and collectivist approaches to safeguarding for various community groups.