FOR 21 years, Joyce Wheatcroft has provided a place for people to socialise and stay active and not made any money from her effort.
Her dedication to the community is why she has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.
Joyce, 79, of Rockingham Lane, Birdwell, hosts weekly dances which are primarily attended by elderly people in the community. About 80 people turn up to the weekly sessions and even more for the charity dances held on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, which have a waiting list due to their popularity.
The seasonal dances are the ones which earned the nomination, as over the years they have raised £20,000 for Aurora Wellbeing Centres and Barnsley Hospital. Aurora provides support to people with cancer, a subject close to Joyce’s heart after she lost her husband three years ago.
“It was his wish for me to keep going with the dancing,” she said.
The dances would be missed by those who attended, some who had been going along for 21 years. The Christmas and new year’s events include a raffle to help raise extra money and are sell-out days. All the money left after the cost of setting up and using the venue goes to charity.
For the weekly dances, Joyce only asks for £2 a session to dance in Brampton parish hall and the money goes back to the group, paying for days out.
“We have a trip away every year to the coast. They’ve just got back from Bridlington,” she said.
“I only ask for money for the bus but all the rest of the money goes back to them. If anything it costs me money.”
Joyce was surprised and pleased to be nominated by her friend Margaret Hulley, who helps to run the dances, saying: “I’m just shocked to be nominated for an award. That’s lovely of her.
“I’ll have to have a brandy or something to calm down.”
