Performing Arts students at Derby College’s Joseph Wright Centre have gained a unique insight into the production process behind Derby Theatre’s successful Christmas show ‘Alice in Wonderland’.

The students, who have their sights set on a wide range of careers in the creative industries, have been shadowing the team including directors, costume and lighting designers, technical stage team and actors throughout the preparation of the production.

The project culminated in the students creating and presenting their own adapted scenes at Derby Theatre.

Derby College is expanding the range of work experience and potential job and apprenticeship opportunities for Construction learners in partnership with even more local  employers.

Derby College has expanded its ‘Learning for Leisure’ programme of short evening courses aimed at enabling people to take up a new hobby for 2017.

More than 700 people attended a special Service of Thanksgiving and Hope at Derby Cathedral, organised by Derby and Ashbourne family-owned funeral directors, G. Wathall & Son Ltd.

Donations collected raised more than £1,350 for this year’s chosen charity which is The Laura Centre Derby who help local families when a child dies, or is bereaved. Wathall’s hold the memorial service every year – inviting families who have lost loved ones during this and past years, as well as representatives from local churches, hospitals and nursing homes.

Primary school pupils have been given a boost by boiler servicing contractor J Tomlinson thanks to support from Futures Housing Group customers.
 
The company operates the maintenance and servicing contract for the housing organisation, and each time staff are given first-time access to a customer’s home to carry out work, the firm donates £1 to invest into the community.
 

Rosa the UK Fund for women and girls has launched a new £2.2 million "Women to Women" Fund. Supported using funds from the ‘Tampon Tax, local women's organisations across the UK can apply for grants of up to £25,000 to support a wide range of charitable work that benefits women from building confidence and leadership skills, tackling harassment and violence, to training in financial literacy and increasing engagement in decision-making; etc.

The Fawcett Society, which is one of the UK's leading charity campaigning for gender equality and women's rights has launched the Spirit of Women Changemakers Small Grants Programme. The Spirit of Women Changemakers small grants programme has been launched to mark and celebrate the centenary of the iconic moment in 1918 when women first won the right to vote. Changemakers will fund projects that creatively challenge the damaging gender norms and stereotypes which continue to limit women's freedom to express themselves and live as the lives they choose.

A new book has been produced to commemorate the end of the plague at Eyam 350 years ago, published by St Lawrence Church, Eyam.
 
We are now one month on from the last plague death in Eyam 350 years ago and the village is recovering from the trauma of losing one-third of its population.

Pupils at Royal School for the Deaf Derby (RSDD) will perform a specially choreographed dance and contemporary circus piece as the curtain-raiser for a family show at regional dance house Déda on Tuesday December 20.

High Peak Theatre Trust, which operates Buxton Opera House and Pavilion Arts Centre, today announced the appointment of Paul Kerryson MBE as its Interim Executive Director.