Full Breakdown
Northampton Dance Competition Raises Funds for Mental-Health Charity
7/11/2026, 11:01:14 AM
Fundraiser Overview
Step-By-Step dance school in Northampton organized the “2026 Strictly Brackley” competition on a Saturday at 18:30 BST at Brackley Leisure Centre. Each contestant aims to raise £250 for Mental Health Friends, a charity founded by Claire Readman in 2019, and for the Step-By-Step Arts Foundation. The event is part of a series of drop-in sessions held every Thursday at the Chatty Parrot Café in Brackley, intended to create supportive communities and intervene early in mental-health crises.
Origins and Goals
Mental Health Friends was created after Readman’s own experience with depression, social anxiety and a breakdown. The charity’s mission is to provide early-intervention support, address long waiting lists, and foster local peer networks. Step-By-Step’s fundraiser seeks to supplement limited public funding by engaging the community through dance, promoting fitness, and reducing stigma around mental-health challenges.
Participant Impact
Contestants report significant personal benefits. Nicola Lawrence, 52, said the competition helped her move beyond menopause-related struggles and neurodiversity diagnosis, describing the experience as “massive” for her wellbeing. Michelle May Hetherington, sober for seven years after battling addiction, credited the event with giving her a sense of purpose and a way to model positive change for her children. Builder Neil Cassidy highlighted a gender gap, urging more men to join, noting that participation improves both physical health and mental resilience.
Verbatim Quotes
- “If people didn't raise money [for mental health charities] then I might not be here now.” — Nicola Lawrence, Contestant
- “I can show them that I've changed and they can be proud of me and they are proud of me,” — Michelle May Hetherington, Contestant
- “It's like a family, they've all got your back.” — Michelle May Hetherington, Contestant
What’s Next
The competition proceeds weekly, with each round targeting a £250 contribution per dancer. Organizers plan to continue the Thursday drop-ins and expand outreach to encourage greater male participation in future events.
