Amanda’s Mentoring Journey with Bring It To C.I.C and ATHAC

As the Director of Bring It To C.I.C, one of the most meaningful parts of my work is creating spaces where people feel seen, supported and encouraged to grow in confidence.

Through our partnership with ATHAC, we have been delivering inclusive mentoring and movement sessions designed to support individuals with SEN and additional needs. This work is incredibly important to us because we believe dance, creativity and mentoring should be accessible to everyone — not only those who already feel confident enough to step into the room.

One of the people I have had the absolute pleasure of working with is Amanda.

Amanda has only completed her first session with us so far, but she has already been such a joy to work with. From the moment she stepped into the space, she brought a beautiful energy. She was present, open and willing to try. What stood out to me most was her confidence — a quiet but powerful confidence that showed me just how much potential she has.

It was a really special first session, and I am genuinely looking forward to supporting Amanda over the next eight sessions as we continue to build on her growth, creativity and self-expression.

Why Inclusive Mentoring Matters

At Bring It To C.I.C, inclusion is not something we add on at the end. It is part of the foundation of who we are and how we work.

For many people with SEN and additional needs, access to dance, mentoring and creative industry opportunities can be limited. There can be barriers around confidence, communication, accessibility, representation, and being allowed to explore what they are capable of.

That is why our mentoring work matters.

These sessions are not just about dance steps or choreography. They are about creating a safe, supportive and empowering environment where individuals can build confidence, develop social skills, express themselves and feel part of something positive.

We want every person who works with Bring It To to know that they have a place in the room.

Creating Pathways Into Dance and the Creative Industry

The creative industry should be a space where more SEN children, young people and adults can see themselves represented. We need more inclusive pathways that allow people to explore dance, performance, creativity and confidence-building in a way that meets them where they are.

At Bring It To C.I.C, we are passionate about opening those doors.

We want our work to inspire more individuals with additional needs to feel connected to dance and the wider creative industry. Whether that is through movement, mentoring, performance, confidence-building, or simply having a safe space to be themselves, we believe the opportunity should be there.

Amanda’s first session reminded me exactly why this work is needed. When someone is given the right support, the right encouragement and the right environment, their confidence can shine naturally.

Looking Ahead

This is only the beginning of Amanda’s journey with us, and I am so excited to see how she grows over the next eight sessions.

She has already shown so much confidence, and I know there is so much more to come. I am looking forward to seeing her develop, express herself more freely and continue building a positive relationship with movement and mentoring.

As Director of Bring It To C.I.C, I am proud that we can work alongside organisations like ATHAC to make mentoring, dance and creative development more inclusive and accessible.

Amanda has been a joy to work with so far, and I cannot wait to see her progress throughout the rest of the programme.

Written by Natalie McLean, Director of Bring It To C.I.C