Ballroom glamour comes to Basingstoke

Published by Steve Murphy for Sentinel Housing Association Ltd in Housing and also in Communities

MORE THAN 100 north Hampshire senior citizens will be dusting down their ballgowns and squeezing into their dancing shoes to take part in a ballroom extravaganza fronted by TV ballroom dance duo Vincent and Flavia, as seen on Strictly Come Dancing.

On August 12, residents from eight sheltered housing schemes will see if they can pick up tips from the experts on the foxtrot, waltz and tango, as part of a special day organised by their landlord, Sentinel Housing Association.

Local dance school Footsteps, the Ross Mitchell Band, and the Deputy Mayor of Basingstoke will line up alongside Sentinel staff to provide advice and support for the afternoon.

The ballroom blitz is one of six ambitious community projects delivered by Sentinel staff across north Hampshire all on the same day, including painting a village hall, building a vegetable garden, landscaping wasteland, and running a family fun day.

Ballroom project coordinator, Sentinel's Debbie Cook says: The residents came up with the idea only a few weeks ago, and since then, weve been overwhelmed with the support from local businesses donating time, money or the venue, to make sure the areas senior citizens have a great day. Vincent and Flavia coming is the icin on the cake.

Meanwhile, sheltered residents who are less mobile wont be left out, and will be pampered with hand massages, manicures, and facial treatments from Sentinel staff. And over at a sheltered scheme in Popley, Basingstoke, Sentinel staff will be completing a communal garden makeover.