Rinova are excited to share we have been awarded Centre of Excellence status by the Leadership Skills Foundation. This is an outstanding achievement in our first year of delivering the AEB contract, funded by the Mayor of London.
The Creative Re Work project has been successful in delivering high quality information, advice and guidance for people in the creative sector since 2022 and we wanted to offer free accredited qualifications to be able to upskill and develop participants further.
We decided to work with the Leadership Skills Foundation due to the standard of their courses and felt they would be an appropriate fit for Rinova. In February 2024 we delivered Dance Leadership Level One to our first cohort and the learners were so enthused, they wanted to return for Level Two.
Feedback from our external quality assurance review was exceptional and the tutors were commended for their thorough assessment and how the course was structured to suit the needs of the learners.
Rinova were approached by the Leadership Skills Foundation to complete a case study to show how the courses have developed and supported learners and we were invited to apply for Centre of Excellence status.
The Centre of Excellence title was first launched in 2023-24 and is presented to organisations that demonstrate a deeply held commitment to developing essential leadership skills in their learners to support professional development. To be considered, centres must adhere to a comprehensive list of criteria, including: a commitment to effective leadership practices, pathways for leadership throughout the community, fostering a positive culture, implementing innovative leadership strategies and maintaining high standards of learner performance.
With only 38 centres selected for the 2024-25 academic year from the 2,500 plus that the Leadership Skills Foundation works with annually, the accomplishment is testament to the work achieved by the Creative Re Work team. Nearly 40 learners have benefited this year alone and over 200 volunteering hours given by the learners have had a positive impact on the community.
We have had a learner who hadn’t danced for 20 years, but after initially doing a workshop with us, they completed both levels of the Dance Leadership qualifications.
They have since gone on to become a Duty Manager at a dance studio in East London and are now exploring their own funding opportunities to deliver dance classes.
Another learner was at a crossroads before completing the course. After level two, he felt confident to apply for a Masters in Contemporary Dance and feels like his life is going in the right direction.
“The course has truly changed the trajectory of my life when I felt stuck. I will always appreciate it”
Our Dance Leadership learners build strong relationships, and they network with each other, some going on to establish collaborative dance collectives.
Richard Norman, Chief Executive for the Leadership Skills Foundation, said: “We are delighted to award Rinova with Centre of Excellence status for the coming academic year. We believe that every person should have access to opportunities to develop the skills they need to positively influence their future and their communities.
“Across the 2,500 centres we work with, Rinova offers an incredible experience for its learners to develop essential leadership skills and it is a privilege to work with them. We can’t wait to see how they continue to build on their Excellence status.”
Creative Re Work are committed to continuing to deliver high quality teaching during the current academic year and to ensure we maintain our status.
Shereen Davey
QA Manager -Rinova
