The Rainbow Nation Foundation CIC
Dedicated to creating a healthier and better connected LGBT+ community in London.
Alex Scurr founded the Rainbow Nation Dance Academy (RNDA), formally the Gay Men’s Dance Company (GMDC), in September 2015. It originated as a weekly dance class. The company quickly grew and developed into a safe space where people could connect with others from the LGBT+ community and their allies, outside of the party scene and apps.
The Foundation was created in response to evident needs within a community still burdened with external stigma and prejudice. A board of dedicated volunteers has been elected to run the Foundation, and our work supports already established LGBT+ charities, organisations and groups, as well as producing some of our own events and programmes.
Scholarships
Some of the money raised goes into our scholarship scheme, allowing people under financial hardship to access joining LGBT+ community and hobby groups like Rainbow Nation Dance Academy, where previously they wouldn’t have been able to.
We don’t believe that money should stop you from being part of a community!
We also work with: 56 Dean Street, London Friend, East London Out Project, Opening Doors, Positive East, Wandsworth Oasis, Diversity Role Models, LGBT Hero and Micro Rainbow.
Issues we are committing to tackle include:
● Mental health
● LGBT+ stigma, and young people’s education
● STI prevention measures
● HIV stigma
● Coming out
● Chemsex and substance abuse
● Support for the LGBT+ elderly
● Trans discrimination
Our partnered organisations can approach the Foundation directly for funding towards specific projects, programmes and events.
We will also be developing our own ideas to work with our partnered organisations, such as:
● Dance and performing arts classes for the LGBT+ elderly, helping them keep active in a fun, sociable way and create a sense of community, combating loneliness.
● Dance and performing arts classes in schools for children, giving them ‘normalised’ exposure to LGBT+ people.
● ‘Life Lessons’. Regular open events where people can learn life skills that they may not have previously learnt or want more information on, eg. saving money & budgeting, health/fitness and wellbeing, drug use harm reduction or employment skills.
● Self-defence classes.
● Inclusive, welcoming, fun & friendly social events for the whole community.
The Rainbow Nation Foundation, with its partner organisations and the Rainbow Nation Dance Academy, want to increase support for the LGBT+ community both in London and wider, helping all to live better, happier & healthier lives.