A disabled-led dance school in the North East is struggling with costs and a lack of funding, despite its popularity. Founder Kate Stanforth set it up during the pandemic, streaming free classes online, and it has since supported more than 500 dancers with a wide range of disabilities. She is trying to raise £20,000 to keep the academy running and make dance more accessible.
Around 30 fans gathered at a midnight event at The Secret Bookshelf in Carrickfergus to celebrate the release of the sixth book in the A Court of Thorns and Roses series. The bookshop ran activities such as felting and friendship bracelet making, and local businesses provided treats for the late-night gathering.
Plans to extend and refurbish Theatre Royal Wakefield have been submitted to Wakefield Council by the trust that runs it. The work would add a new extension, a lift and staircase for better access, and upgraded seating and lighting, raising capacity from 493 to 510. The trust says it would help secure the historic Grade II* listed venue's future.
Photographer Sam Hill spent months tracking down young people he had photographed in Preston in 1980 and reunited with many of them. Their stories are now shown in an Alternative Kids exhibition at Preston's Harris Museum, which runs until 10 January.
