Man with Down's syndrome achieves teaching dream

Synergy Dance Outreach runs classes for children and teenagers with special needs

A man with Down's syndrome from Surrey has achieved his dream of becoming a paid dance teacher.

Synergy Dance Outreach, which runs classes for children and teenagers with special needs, has promoted teacher Samuel Denne to a paid position following training.

After a class at Woking Leisure Centre, Mr Denne told BBC Radio Surrey he hoped his promotion would "encourage" people with disabilities.

The charity had benefited from a £45,000 Children in Need grant, which founder Rachael Hurton said ensured the group would continue.

She said: "I can safely say this class wouldn't be happening without their support. We're so grateful."

The grant provides money for classes for children and teenagers with special educational needs and disabilities.

Ms Hurton said there was high demand for the classes, as the not-for-profit group recently expanded from Surrey to cover East and West Sussex, Hampshire and London

"Real inclusion is about making everyone feel welcome, and so we have a lot of mainstream classes with special needs children too, it all overlaps," she added.

Mothers Heather and Jo said their daughters could be themselves at the class

Ms Hurton says the classes allow the children and teenagers to grow in confidence and "feel like they can take on the world".

Mum Jo told BBC Radio Surrey her daughter Ruby felt "accepted and safe" at the classes.

"I think it's a place where they can come and do the thing they love without fear of judgement," she said.

"They can be themselves, and I think it's been transformative [for] Ruby's social development and also her confidence."

Ruby's friend Isla says she likes the class because she gets "to express" her emotions.

Isla's mum Heather said: "She struggles with her emotions and to know that she's able to be herself and let her emotions out here is really nice."