Hot on the heels of comic actor Matthew Baynton’s portrayal of Bottom in the RSC’s 2024 production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chichester Festival Theatre has handed the role to another one of the UK’s most successful comedians. In his first stage acting appearance, Youtube star and popular comedy show panellist Munya Chawawa, brings extraordinary levels of energy and superb delivery and timing to this new production of Shakespeare’s ‘Dream’, running at the main Festival Th

Nearly 100 people came together for Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity’s annual sponsored walk, Walk Together, and raised almost £18,000 for children under five with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments. Walkers enjoyed glorious sunshine in West Sussex as they took on one of three options: a fully accessible 5k route, a 15k mixed-terrain trek or a shorter sensory Bear Hunt for younger children and families. For a quarter of a century, Dame Vera Lynn Childr

The rail industry has extended the Disabled Persons Railcard eligibility to help more people access discounted rail travel. From today (September 30) customers with a long-term impairment, health condition or neurodivergence that has lasted or is expected to last at least 12 months and significantly affects their ability to use rail services will be able to apply for the Disabled Persons Railcard. Eligibility under the expansion will be based on the impact a person's conditio

The Ocean Film Festival World Tour is back, bringing a new collection of captivating ocean-themed films to venues around the UK this autumn. A powerful and visually stunning line-up of short thrilling ocean adventure films will celebrate the ocean from every angle: above the surface, beneath the waves, and deep into the stories that connect us all to the sea. “As we head into our 13th year, the Ocean Film Festival World Tour remains a celebration of the ocean in all its beaut

New research from the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has revealed the significant financial pressures facing blind and partially sighted people across the UK. With rising living costs impacting not only household finances but also independence, wellbeing and social connection, the key findings revealed:       · Only 13% of those receiving disability benefits said their disability benefits completely covered the additional costs of sight loss.   · More th

Three charities across the UK are set to benefit from a new electric tricycle after being selected as winners of Jorvik Tricycles’ community giveaway. Following a nationwide competition inviting charities and community organisations to nominate themselves, Jorvik Tricycles has selected Shopmobility York, Monty’s Bike Hub in Southampton and Cycling 4 All in Wrexham as its three winners. Each organisation will receive an adult electric tricycle worth £1,000 to support its work

The accomplishments of musicians playing instruments with only one hand have been celebrated at a special concert held at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Organised by music disability charity The OHMI Trust, the concert marked the 15th anniversary of the Birmingham charity which enables musicians with an upper limb absence, impairment or weakness to play the musical instruments they wish to play. It sought to raise both funds and awareness of OHMI’s work in commission

The UK’s first and only professional wheelchair dance company is to bring seven powerful short works to audiences across the Midlands and beyond. Birmingham-based Propel Dance has announced a new autumn tour of Momentum, a landmark showcase celebrating the power, artistry and excitement of disability dance. Following £54,931 of investment from Arts Council England, Propel Dance will tour Momentum to four venues from November 2026 to February 2027, in what will be the company’

Blind and partially sighted people across the UK are being invited to share their experiences of accessing food packaging as part of a new survey designed to strengthen the case for mandatory braille food labelling. The survey, launched by Sight Scotland, Disability Equality Scotland and partners, will gather evidence on the challenges people face when identifying, storing and using food products. The campaign comes amid growing calls for greater accessibility in food lab

Taking place hot on the heels of London Fashion Week, Back Up’s Front Row fashion show takes to the catwalk on September 24. The show, at London’s historic Battersea Arts Centre, will redefine what it means to take to the runway, celebrating inclusive and adaptive fashion and models with lived experience. It will also raise funds to support Back Up’s work to empower people affected by spinal cord injury to unlock new possibilities, build confidence, and live life to the f

A specialist residential home in East Sussex has been awarded Care Team of the Year at the inaugural Brighton & Hove Care Awards. The award recognises the exceptional commitment, expertise and compassion of the Vallance Gardens team, who support adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities and complex health needs. The judges praised Vallance Gardens for its exceptional specialist support, outstanding team culture and commitment to helping people live meani

Mobility in Motion has announced a new collaboration with the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), bringing together two organisations with a shared focus on supporting greater independence for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). More than 105,000 people are estimated to be living with SCI in the UK, and three quarters of people surveyed by SIA have experienced challenges when travelling. For many people living with SCI, the ability to travel independently is an i

World-renowned Christian songwriter, Graham Kendrick has composed a new song inspired by national disability charity, Shaftesbury.    Joy oh Joy celebrates inclusion and Shaftesbury’s nationwide support for children, young people and adults with disabilities. It reflects the charity's vision of a world where everyone is valued and accepted for who they are.   “Millions across the globe are familiar with Graham’s songs and we are honoured to have our impactful work recognise

The UK’s first money-saving platform for those with a disability or long-term chronic health condition has launched a new free app to help disabled people navigate the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Adult Disability Payment (ADP) application process. In the 2026 government PIP review, 90% of respondents viewed the process of claiming negatively, and described it as “dehumanising”, “degrading” and “stressful”. One of the most challenging parts of the process is keep

Seven puppies in training and their volunteer puppy raisers from Guide Dogs UK were invited on stage recently by the cast of Olivier and Tony award-winning comedy The Play That Goes Wrong. The puppies, ranging between 10 months and one year and five months old, went on a special visit to London’s Duchess Theatre in London’s West End as part of their training to become guide dogs. “Introducing our puppies to lots of different sights, sounds and smells early on is incredibly im

Northern Trains has overhauled the way it manages the training of its staff to support disabled passengers following an investigation by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). ORR found the train operator had failed to deliver the required disability awareness training for its passenger-facing staff, as it commits to do in its Accessible Travel Policy, and did not have adequate oversight in place to make sure staff received the right training. Northern subsequently provided an im

Disabled residents at a Newcastle care home will take on the Great North Run on Sunday (September 13). Ross Jones and Nigel Grahamslaw, who are both wheelchair users, will raise money for disability charity Leonard Cheshire. Ross and Nigel live at the charity’s Bradbury Wing home in Jesmond Dene, which supports up to 20 disabled adults. Ross , an enthusiastic character who loves the chance to get out and about, became involved after seeing Nigel enter last year’s event. Watch

A charity supporting people who have learning difficulties or autism, who may also have sight loss, has won an NHS contract to extend its Special School Eye Care Service to tens of thousands more children. In the past year, SeeAbility has reached more than 3,000 children in London’s special schools and colleges under a proof-of-concept service contract. Under the new contract, the charity is expected to support almost 30,000 children in London, as well as 40,000 in the Thames

Live to Your Living Room is back. Sit back and relax in the comfort of your own home on September 11 for a gig featuring singer-songwriters Jenny Sturgeon and M G Boulter. Dreamy, engaging, and nostalgic, this folk duo celebrates the wonder and sheer joy of everyday life. Simply beautiful. Live to Your Living Room delivers the very best live performances to your home, great for anyone who can’t get to gigs because of their disability, insurmountable problems in getting th

Influential figures in disability arts, accessibility and inclusive culture have been brought together to help support the cultural programme for the Inclusive Sport and Culture Festival (ISCF) that will take place in Liverpool next year. The newly formed Cultural Advisory Group will play a central role in developing the festival's £1 million Arts Council England supported disabled-led cultural programme, ensuring it is artistically ambitious, accessible and authentically i