diddi dance

diddi dance Sunderland Makes it into the Top 100 Activity Providers for 2025 at Club Hub Awards

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We are thrilled to announce that Dani Meighan of diddi dance Sunderland made it into the Top 100 Activity Providers for 2025!

Dani attended the Club Hub Awards last Saturday in Birmingham, where  she was announced to have made it into the list. She said, “I feel really proud to be one of the UK’s Top 100 Children’s Activity Providers & knowing that what I do can make such a huge difference to families and children. Just seeing them smile, grow in confidence, and flourish is such a special feeling.”

A first of its kind for the children’s activities industry, the official list was announced throughout the day at the Club Hub Event 2025 on Saturday 10th May in Birmingham.

Business owners applying had to be an active children’s activity provider and a registered club hub member to enter. They also had to be the person physically teaching the classes or activities in the UK.

Entries for ‘Top 100 Children’s Activity Providers’ were assessed by expert judges, focussing on five key areas: activity benefits, safeguarding, inclusivity, community impact and business achievements. Each question was marked 1-20, giving a total overall score out of 100.

The list will also be a useful tool for parents and carers, as they will know that the providers have demonstrated the benefits of their activity for participants as well as excellent levels of commitment to, and compliance with safeguarding and inclusivity.

Well done Dani.

 

Anne-Marie Martin, founder of diddi dance, Wins Lifetime Achievement Award at Club Hub Awards 2025

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2025 CLUB HUB AWARD WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Club Hub is delighted to announce 15 award winners for 2025. Local business owner Anne-Marie Martin, founder of diddi dance, and also runs diddi dance Royal Borough of Greenwich,  was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Club Hub Awards are the only national awards for children’s activity providers with entry by application form only, no voting. The awards are independently judged by a panel of expert judges, winners are selected based on their commitment to excellence, innovation and growth of their business, demonstrated through their business performance, achievements, brand values and passion for what they do.

The awards are offered across 15 categories. 75 finalists were shortlisted from 340 applications, representing 196 Club Hub member businesses. The standard of applications was very high and represented a diverse range of kids activities, clubs and related businesses.

The winners were announced at the Club Hub Event 2025 on Saturday 10 May at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham and on Grow Radio. The annual awards recognise and showcase the dedication and achievements of businesses in the sector.

“It’s such an honour to receive such a prestigious award. I love everything we do at diddi dance and our amazing energetic diddi dance crew but also being part of such a fantastic industry” – Anne-Marie Martin, founder of diddi dance.

“Huge Congratulations to all our Club Hub Award Winners this year. It was amazing to present your award on Saturday and celebrate all your achievements. I very much look forward to following your business journeys for years to come” – Tessa Day, Founder and Director of Club Hub UK

 

 

Children’s Activities Week has Started – Join the Fun with diddi dance!

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Children’s Activities Week has started!

We’re so excited to be part of this amazing week celebrating joy, creativity, and confidence that children’s activities bring.

At diddi dance, we’ll be dancing, giggling, and grooving through a week of fun and imagination – all while supporting the wonderful charity Caudwell Children. 

Together, we can help change the lives of disabled and autistic children across the UK.

Please donate to this amazing cause and 100% of all donations go directly to the charity.

Let’s make memories, raise smiles and show the world the power of dance.

Check for classes near you now, or contact your local diddi dance teacher for more information. We can’t wait to see you.

diddi dance Founder, Finalist in the Club Hub Awards 2025

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Tomorrow we are off to the Club Hub Awards 2025, where Anne-Marie Martin, founder of diddi dance, has been nominated for the Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Michel Morton Insurance.

The Club Hub Awards are for businesses in the children’s activity sector and are offered across 15 categories. 75 finalists have been shortlisted from 261 applications, representing 195 businesses (Club Hub members). The standard of applications was very high and represented a diverse range of kids activities, clubs and related businesses.

The Club Hub Awards are the only national awards for activity providers with entry by application form only, no voting. The awards are independently judged by a panel of judges and finalists are shortlisted based on their commitment to excellence, innovation and growth of their business, demonstrated through their business performance, achievements, brand values and passion for what they do.

Award winners will be announced at the Club Hub Event 2025, Saturday 10 May, Macdonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham. It’s a full day event for businesses owners working with children and families, with guest speakers, workshops and networking, to support their professional and personal development.

“Huge congratulations to all our 2025 finalists, I can’t wait to celebrate all your achievements at the Club Hub Event in May. The children’s activities industry is so important to so many and it is great to showcase the best of the best to the whole of the UK” – Tessa Day, Founder and Director of Club Hub UK.

Good luck to Anne-Marie and all the other finalists.

diddi dance taking part in Children’s Activities Week 12th-18th May

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diddi dance is so proud to support Children’s Activities Week with What’s On 4 Kids UK again this year!

Every year Children’s Activities Week raises vital funds for Caudwell Children and it will be held 12th – 18th May 2025.

We join thousands of other activity providers across the UK to celebrate the wonderful fun we have in sessions and raise money for such a brilliant charity – Caudwell Children. They are dedicated to increasing equal access to opportunities for children and families with all abilities across the UK.

In previous years the theme has been I Can Fly where we encourage children in class to dress up and donate. This year the theme is #standup4send with a Makaton challenge in class which has been created by our wonderful franchisee Josie of diddi dance Torbay, Central Exeter & Surrounding and we hope to raise as much money as possible. You can donate to our JustGiving page here.

For more information speak to your local diddi dance teacher and visit Caudwell Children to find out about the amazing charity that Children’s Activities support.

 

Happy International Day of Dance

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Yesterday we celebrated International Day of Dance!

At diddi dance we celebrate the magic, joy and creativity that dancing brings into our lives, and no one does it better than our amazing little ones at diddi dance.

From funky moves to freestyle fun, we love seeing our diddi’s build confidence, express themselves, and most importantly, having so much fun!

Lets keep inspiring a love of movement to music from the very start.

Whether you want to join a class, have a party, have us deliver nursery sessions, become a teacher or become a franchisee and own your very own diddi dance business, where you can enjoy dance as part of your life then we have something for you. Get in touch now.

diddi dance Franchisees through to Voting Stage in the What’s On 4 Kids UK Awards 2025

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We are so proud to announce that six of our franchisees are through to voting in the prestigious What’s On 4 Kids UK Awards 2025!

If you know and love our classes, parties and nursery sessions, please head to the What’s On 4 Kids website to vote and you’ll find us under ‘Most Loved Music Dance or Performing Arts Activity  – Franchise or Licence Territory’.

 

 

Franchisees up for nomination are:

*Laura Newton – South East Hampshire & Chichester

*Laura Makinson – Cheshire East & West

*Kirsty Barker – Central & North Liverpool & South Knowsley

*Naomi Sumner – Southport, Sefton & West Lancashire

*Charlotte Burgess – Shropshire

*Jane Mitchell – Bexley & Orpington

 

 

 

The awards are in their 19th year now and recognises and rewards the most loved children’s activities and businesses in the UK since 2006.

The ceremony will be held on 27th November 2025 in Leicester, and the British Franchise Association will be joining as Ceremony Sponsor for a 3rd year.

Voting is now open – show some love and vote for your favourite children’s’ activity provider and help make their dream of reaching the finals come true!

 

diddi dance Founder Announced as Finalist in Two Prestigious Awards

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2025 has started incredibly well for diddi dance. Their founder, Anne-Marie Martin has been announced as a finalist for 2 prestigious awards in the childrens activities sector.
Her first announcement was for the ICON Award in the Institute of Childrens Activity Providers which is held on 20th March and then for the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Club Hub UK awards which takes place on 10th May.
Anne-Marie started diddi dance back in 2003 after seeing a gap in the market for preschool dance classes and after 22 years still teaches her local classes AS well as running a national network of passionate franchisees across the UK from Sunderland down to Plymouth. With over 30 years teaching experience, her dance degree in 1997 and working with child psychologists and early years movement specialists, the diddi dance program explores dance styles from around the world, delivering sessions in a simple, fun and engaging way to preschoolers from babies to 5 years.
“to be a finalist in 2 amazing award categories with such highly respected others is an honour, it would be amazing to win even one of these the year I turn 50 but even just getting to be a fianlist is something I am extremely proud of” says Anne-Marie Martin.

diddi dance Attends HSBC Elite Franchise Top 100 Awards 2025

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The team at diddi dance attended the HSBC Elite Franchise TOP 100 Awards 2025 where we had the privilege of collecting our TOP 100 franchise award for the 8th year running. It was an amazing evening that took place at the Leonardo Hotel in St Paul’s, Central London and we got the chance to celebrate and network with so many other franchises. It really is a tremendous industry to be part of.

The HSBC Elite Franchise TOP 100 UK Awards is Britain’s definitive official list celebrating excellence in the franchise community.

   

diddi dance Founder, Makes Finalist in ICAP Awards 2025 as ICAP ICON

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We are so proud to announce that Anne- Marie Martin founder & franchisor of diddi dance has been nominated and is a finalist in the Institute of Children’s Activities Awards Awards 2025 as ICAP ICON for her incredible contribution to the Children’s activities sector.

 

 

ICAP or the Institute or Children’s Activity Providers, are a professional membership body and community of business owners and leaders operating in the children’s activities sector. Aiming to champion best practice, raise standards and innovate, driving positive change and progression across the industry.

 

 

Congratulations Anne-Marie. Good luck in the final.

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