Phoenix Forward is a new corporate membership scheme that is bringing businesses together around the shared goal of making a difference for disadvantaged children and young people. Find out how your business can make a difference and join as a founding member today.

As a charity, we are committed to giving back to our local community, with a focus on empowering children and young people. Each year, we support over 6,800 young people through our school partnerships, holiday and after-school programs, targeted projects, and our flagship Phoenix Youth Academy. 

Each year we also deliver a Community Engagement Tour, which sees us perform in schools and community venues across the city, enabling young and old alike to access the arts for free and in many cases giving them their first experience of live contemporary dance.  

Week in week out we see the impact of our work. We know it changes lives. 

“I would like to express my deep appreciation for the incredible work your team is doing to support children’s mental health and wellbeing. These sessions have provided our daughter with not only a creative outlet, but also a space where she feels happy and engaged. It’s clear that your efforts are making a positive impact.”
– Parent of a Healthy Holidays attendee, Summer 2024.

And the research backs it up – more arts engagement is associated with higher levels of wellbeing and social connectedness, and lower odds of intense social loneliness. Studying arts subjects develops students’ confidence, resilience, and the soft skills employers like you need today. 

Despite this it is getting harder and harder to reach those who need us. Since 2010 local government culture funding has almost halved, and arts teaching in schools has dropped by nearly 30% in the same period.

You can help us fight back against this decline by joining our new corporate membership scheme, Phoenix Forward. Your support will help enable Phoenix to continue to deliver our vital outreach work to disadvantaged children and young people and contribute to the vitality of the local arts sector. Your support will help keep Leeds dancing.

We are pleased to welcome Bartlett Group/Foundation, The Copier Company, John Lewis & Partners, Squire Patton Boggs, TransPennine Express, Northern Railway as the latest members of the Phoenix Forward network. Thank you for coming on board and recognising the work we do!

You can join Phoenix Forward as a founding member today with a minimum donation of £500. You will be joining a network of local businesses who are proud to show they care. Benefits of membership include: 

• Brand association with an internationally celebrated performing arts company. 
• Listing on our website, our annual report and in the programme for our upcoming national tour. 
• A shout out on social media and in our supporter newsletter, with a combined reach of 123,000. 
• Networking opportunities with fellow business leaders. 
• Opportunity to secure a tailored team-building session for your employees to help boost physical wellbeing and morale. 
• Regular “what’s on” updates from Phoenix. 
• Priority ticket booking access for our upcoming premiere at Leeds Playhouse.  

By choosing to support Phoenix Dance Theatre today you will not only be supporting underrepresented young people, but you will also take your place as founders of what is set to become a dynamic and forward-thinking business network.  

Let’s be extraordinary together.