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Veronica Jobbins, Head of Learning and Participation (Dance) at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, has been awarded an MBE for “services to young people” in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2018.

Professor Anthony Bowne, Principal of Trinity Laban, said:

“Veronica is a truly outstanding colleague. Her unstinting commitment to increasing opportunities and access for young people to dance really has changed people’s lives. She is an inspiration to all who come in contact with her, and I am utterly delighted that she has been recognised with this richly deserved honour.”

Veronica originally trained as a specialist dance teacher. She was instrumental in the formation of the National Dance Teachers Association (now part of One Dance UK), and continues to advocate passionately for dance, serving on numerous boards and working groups concerned with youth dance and dance in the curriculum. In her role at Trinity Laban, she has introduced and overseen a wide range of opportunities for young people to experience dance, whatever their economic and cultural background. In 2017, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural One Dance UK Teaching Awards.

Veronica Jobbins MBE said:

“I am really pleased to be honoured in this way and would like to take this opportunity to recognise and thank all the wonderful colleagues and teachers with whom I have worked and am working with now. Without them I would have achieved very little. I would also like to say thank you to all those young people, who make what we do so worthwhile and (not to be forgotten) also great fun!

More than anything else, I see this award as an acknowledgement of the importance of dance for children and young people. At a time when the arts, and dance in particular, is under such threat in our schools, I will continue to use my energies to make a stand and advocate for the importance of dance for all children and young people.”

(Image credit: Brian Slater)