Spotlight on Breaks for Families helping adopted young people connect through creative dance

The Adoption Community Development Fund helps grassroots organisations turn their lived experience, ideas, passion and understanding into meaningful support for adopted people, adoptive families and birth families.

One of the successful organisations from the 2025/26 funding round was Breaks for Families (BFF), a registered charity providing restorative breaks for adoptive families living in the Adoption East Midlands region. Through their funded project, BFF Dance Break, the charity created opportunities for children and young people aged 8–25 to build confidence, develop friendships and express themselves through creative dance.

Creating space for connection and belonging

 

Breaks for Families was created from personal experience, recognising the importance of having connection, support and moments of breathing space when family life can feel overwhelming. Their work focuses on creating safe, supportive and trauma-informed environments where children and young people can feel understood, valued and included.

 

A key part of BFF’s approach is helping young people develop and maintain friendships through meaningful activities and shared experiences. When the opportunity to apply for the Adoption England Community Development Fund arose, the team saw a chance to expand their work and pilot new opportunities based on what young people themselves had said they wanted.

 

Through previous activities, young people shared that they would like to take part in creative dance sessions, a space where they could have fun, feel safe, express themselves and meet others with similar experiences. This feedback became the foundation for BFF Dance Break.

Supporting young people to grow in confidence

Working alongside Care to Dance, Breaks for Families developed five dance sessions over three months hosted at The HopBarn, a performing arts space set within the Nottinghamshire countryside. The sessions were designed around the interests and ideas of the young people, allowing them to explore different styles of dance, work collaboratively and develop new skills in a supportive environment.

What started as an opportunity to try something new became much more than expected. Over the course of the programme, the young people grew in confidence and worked together towards a final performance for an audience. Through solos, duets and group pieces, they created a 10-minute dance performance alongside the Care to Dance team, celebrating their creativity, teamwork and achievements.

For families involved, seeing their children take part, connect with others and feel proud of what they had achieved was a powerful moment.

The impact of creating safe spaces

Feedback from families highlighted the importance of creating regular opportunities where adoptive families can come together, build relationships and feel supported by others who understand their experiences.

Parents shared how valuable it was for young people to develop friendships, gain confidence and experience a sense of belonging. They also highlighted the importance of working with trauma-informed practitioners who could create an environment where children and young people felt safe to participate and express themselves.

One parent described the impact of the project:

“The opportunity for connections is vital and revitalising. It was wonderful to see relationships growing and developing amongst the young people and adults.”

Another parent shared:

“It was wonderful for my child to meet and make new friends. She has connected so well with the other young people and is smiling, laughing and confident.”

The project also provided restorative opportunities for parents and carers, creating moments where families could share positive experiences, celebrate their children’s achievements and make lasting memories together.

Continuing to build stronger adoption communities

The success of BFF Dance Break demonstrates the impact that community-led projects can have when they are shaped by the voices and experiences of the people they support.

By listening to young people and creating opportunities that reflect their interests and needs, Breaks for Families has helped create a space where children and young people could build confidence, develop friendships and feel seen and understood.

Find out more about Breaks for Families, Care to Dance and The HopBarn:

Find out more about the Community Development Fund

You can read more about the other successful bidders from the 2025/26 round and the important work they are delivering across adoption communities here: Adoption England Awards £50,000 Through Community Development Fund | Adoption England.

We are also pleased to announce the successful bidders from the 2026/27 Community Development Fund. Find out more about the projects being supported and the impact the fund continues to make in communities across England here.