By Bethany Ainsley, OptiMe
What do a managing director, a solicitor and a group of NHS nurses have in common?
Put them on a dancefloor, ask them to learn a routine and perform in front of hundreds of people, and you might be surprised by what happens.
Beyond the laughter, the nerves and the occasional wrong step, something much more meaningful begins to take shape. People connect, professional barriers disappear and businesses come together to support causes that matter. It’s a reminder that giving back isn’t just about raising money, it can also bring out the very best in people and the organisations they represent.
Throughout my career, from delivering dance and wellbeing programmes across the North East to building businesses, I’ve seen what happens when people come together around a shared purpose. And sometimes, stepping outside our usual roles reveals something we don’t often see at work.
We tend to know people through their job titles and professional achievements. We see the confident managing director, the experienced solicitor or the colleague who always seems to have everything under control. But put those same people on a dancefloor and suddenly everyone is a beginner. They make mistakes, laugh at themselves, encourage one another and, most importantly, have great fun.
It’s a chance to see the person behind the job title, and it’s one of the things I love most about Strictly Nuvo, the annual fundraising event organised by Nuvo Wellbeing, which I founded in 2008. It brings together my background in dance, my passion for wellbeing and a business community that’s always willing to get involved.
Last year, Strictly Nuvo raised £10,000 for charitable causes, including North Tees Children’s Ward. One of the highlights was watching nurses from the ward take to the dancefloor themselves, raising funds while showing everyone another side of the people who care for local children and families.
On 20 November, Strictly Nuvo returns to Hardwick Hall Hotel, Sedgefield, for A Night at the Movies. This year, we’re raising funds for Nuvo Wellbeing’s Cancer Prehabilitation Programmes, helping people prepare physically and emotionally for cancer treatment, and The Teesside Charity Hardship Fund, supporting people experiencing financial hardship.
Our participants include Anthony Hutton, Bill Scott OBE DL and Alisdair Beveridge, alongside teams from organisations including Ward Hadaway and the NHS. I can’t wait to see everyone take on the challenge and bring their personalities to the dancefloor.
For businesses, I think there’s something valuable in supporting an experience that combines generosity with genuine enjoyment. We talk a lot about workplace culture, employee engagement and connection, but sometimes those things grow most naturally when people let their guard down and do something different together.
Of course, you don’t need to dance to contribute. We’re inviting Northern Insight readers to donate whatever they can, with businesses that contribute receiving a thank-you on Nuvo Wellbeing’s social media channels.
A special thank you to this year’s sponsors and supporters: Venture Stream, AlphaGraphics, East Durham College, KM Electrical Services, Opus Building Services, Dräger, Learning Curve Group, Newcastle College and Savaria. We’re incredibly grateful for their generosity.
Giving back should always begin with wanting to make a difference, but when it also brings people together, strengthens relationships and creates lasting memories, surely that’s something worth celebrating.