Torron to be Olympic Torch Bearer

---

Brentford needs community centres like Watermans

Torron-Lee Dewar, 19, Brentford, received about 1,000 nominations to win the historic role of Olympic torch bearer..

He said: "It is overwhelming, I received a phonecall and a package in the post a few days later, and in it was an Olympic badge and a biography of me with a gold note of congratulations.

"I'm excited for the Olympics coming to England and I'm sure that many Londoners are too. There will be 8,000 dots on the torch and one of those dots represents my story."

Mr Dewar, was only 16 when he set up Alliance Dance Unit, so he could pass on his street dancing skills and help young people focus on something positive.

The group already has about 80 members, who attend weekly classes at Brentford's Watermans Arts Centre, and it continues to grow.

He said: "I've been dancing pretty much all my life. I started training in my Grandmother's back garden with some of my friends, we would meet up a few times a week and create routines to perform. I trained hard and started teaching the group I used to dance in back in 2008. I then branched out to form my own unit when I was 16."

"We need to get the young people here to engage and have something to look forward to. I would like to see less money being spent on sculptures and more on community engagement projects, we need more community centres like Watermans."

Mr Dewar also scooped a volunteering regional award for bringing communities together, and will head to the National finals in March.

He added: "My volunteering has made an impact on the people I help by helping them to focus on a hobby and pulling them away from anti-social behaviour on London’s streets. This gives people a sense of belonging and confidence from working as a team which are like their second family. "

February 10, 2012