“Access to the arts should not be a privilege; it is a right.”

A Belfast theatre group have confirmed a substantial scaling back of its provision for young disabled audiences due to a severe funding gap, sparking serious worries about access to inclusive cultural experiences for some of society’s most marginalised individuals.

For more than ten years, Replay Theatre Company has stood at the forefront of developing groundbreaking, multi-sensory productions tailored exclusively for youngsters with disabilities. The organisation’s output has delivered not merely cultural participation, but vital chances for social interaction, expression, and individual growth.

Nevertheless, recent budget reductions and a lack of long-term financial backing have forced the company to curtail its activities. This encompasses fewer productions, restricted community engagement programmes, and the suspension of multiple expansion initiatives designed to broaden accessibility.

“This is an incredibly difficult moment for us,” said Brian Mullan, Chief Executive at Replay Theatre Company.

“Our work is built around inclusion and ensuring that young disabled people can experience theatre in a way that is meaningful to them. To reduce these services is heartbreaking, not just for us, but for the families and communities who rely on them.”

Parents and teaching professionals have consistently lauded Replay’s contributions for their life-changing influence. Numerous young participants supported by the organisation encounter considerable obstacles in accessing conventional cultural offerings, rendering Replay’s specialised provision all the more vital.

This personalised approach remains uniquely valuable.

The reduction in services risks creating a void that cannot easily be plugged. Without urgent investment, the long-term viability of accessible theatre provision hangs in the balance.

The funding crisis has also led to the redundancy of Replay Theatre Company’s Director of Inclusive Theatre, a position that has been pivotal to the development and delivery of the company’s specialist work with disabled children and young people.

This represents a considerable blow, both for Replay and for the broader field of inclusive theatre. The role was held by Andrew Stanford, a highly regarded practitioner who has devoted the past ten years to crafting pioneering theatre experiences for disabled children and young people.

Throughout his tenure at Replay, Andrew firmly established himself as an internationally acclaimed authority in inclusive theatre practice, most recently spearheading Replay’s international partnership with two Swedish production companies to bring ROTVISKA to life.

Brian Mullan added: “We are deeply saddened to lose both this role and the expertise it represents.

“Andrew has made an extraordinary contribution to Replay, to disabled young audiences, and to the development of inclusive theatre nationally and internationally. His work has demonstrated what is possible when specialist skills, creativity and sustained investment come together. While Replay remains committed to inclusive practice, the loss of this dedicated role reflects the growing challenges of maintaining a full-time programme of specialist theatre provision for disabled children and young people within the current funding landscape.”

Replay Theatre Company conveyed its heartfelt thanks to Andrew for his outstanding dedication over the past decade, expressing hopes to work alongside him once more in the future.

The company is now urging public bodies, private funders, and community partners to acknowledge the significance of inclusive arts and take meaningful steps to safeguard its future.

“We are committed to continuing our work in whatever capacity we can,” Brian added.

“But we can not do this alone. Access to the arts should not be a privilege, it is a right.”

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Portugal will keep Diogo Jota in their hearts as they play at the World Cup nearly a year after the Liverpool forward’s tragic death alongside his brother in a car crash

Bruno Fernandes says the memory of Diego Jota will help inspire Portugal’s bid to win the World Cup.

The football world was left stunned last summer when Liverpool superstar Jota and his brother Andre Silva were both tragically killed in a car accident in their homeland.

The world of sport went into mourning. And twelve months later, Fernandes insists his former team-mate and close friend is never out of the thoughts of the Portugal squad.

Roberto Martinez’s side kick off their campaign against DR Congo in Houston tomorrow. And Manchester United captain Fernandes said: “It’s very important for us. He was in the group for so long and I played with him through the under-21s.

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“We came to the first team at the same time, and I obviously played against him in the Premier League. Everyone has spoken about him. It will always be good words about him. He was a great team-mate, very down to earth and a great person for the country.

“He’s still part of our group – and always will be. So will his brother be, too. He will also be in our memories.”

Portugal have never won a World Cup – and Fernandes insists there is nothing wrong with dreaming this will change in the coming weeks.

He added: “The best one (team) is the one that wins (the tournament), and I hope at the end we can claim to be that.

“I do believe we have a very talented squad with great individual quality and beyond that, we are a very cohesive team and united. That what’s makes this team special.

“Our dream is to be there. I think dreaming is not forbidden. But our main focus is to start well and focus on the first game in hand.

“If we really want to reach the top, we have to not look too far ahead. There is a responsibility, because this team has so many talents, we just have to be decisive to reach the top.”

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The ad for Pure Cremation, seen in January, featured a woman standing in her home surrounded by drinks and plates of food, saying: “That was a great celebration. Dad would have loved it. He hated how expensive traditional funerals are, ao he got a Pure Cremation funeral plan. He wanted his money to go to us, not funeral expenses.”

​Hundreds more people could soon benefit from greater access to grassroots sport to improve their health and wellbeing after a planned expansion of a popular boxing club was supported by councillors.

​Westway Boxing Club in the Eastfield neighbourhood of Scarborough is facing “time-critical” cost pressures and requires £350,000 in funding for a proposed scheme to expand the community venue.

​A private developer has already covered the first £350,000 for the design, planning work and initial capital contribution to extend the facility.

​NYC’s executive member for corporate services, Cllr Heather Phillips, whose responsibilities include stronger communities, said: “It’s a good news story. It’s been one of the ambitions to expand the club for a long time and it was one of the bedrock items for the Eastfield Town Council vision programme.

​“This project will not detriment any other schemes, there is still scope to deliver the ambitious projects put forward as part of the community consultation.

“Boxing might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it instils discipline and respect in people and it is a massively important project for an area that has been left behind.”

​The proposed expansion would almost double the club’s footfall from around 300 to 500 people, enabling a safe, positive place to build confidence, discipline and life skills through sport.

Eastfield boxing club. NYC (Image: NYC)

​The club has secured a quote of £700,000 for the planned construction work, but it is only guaranteed until the end of June. All other quotes received are more than £1 million, meaning delays could significantly increase costs. In addition, planning permission requires work to begin before January 30, 2027.

​At a meeting of North Yorkshire Council’s executive committee on Tuesday, June 16, council bosses unanimously approved the allocation of £350,000 to fund the project.

​Westway Boxing Club has always been described as a valuable and long-standing community asset with a proven track record of delivering positive outcomes.

​In December last year, North Yorkshire Council gave Eastfield community groups 15 months to agree on a single plan for how £3.2 million in regeneration funding should be used.

​This funding request is an exception to the council’s previous decision that money from the £3.2 million reserve would only be allocated after a community-led investment plan is developed through the Town Investment Plan (TIP) process.

​The boxing club’s expansion plans include a main training hall with a full-sized boxing ring, extra gym space, changing rooms and toilets, a café area as well as new classrooms and spaces for storage.

​Consultation during the planning process led to 44 supportive comments from the community.

​North Yorkshire Council’s elected member for the Eastfield division, Cllr Tom Seston, said: “I have lived near this club my whole life, and I’ve seen how well attended it is.

​“Expanding the club will take it to the next level and allow it to operate as two classes at once by doubling the capacity.

​“This will be a high-class facility and with an investment of £350,000 we are getting so much social benefit for the community.

”It is also due to create rooms for alternative education and specialist programmes, including support for people with Parkinson’s disease.”

​Cllr Malcolm Taylor, executive member for highways, said at the meeting: “I’ve seen first hand the diversionary work that this boxing club does for young people in the community; it does brilliant work, and I’m very happy to support it.”

He was diagnosed when he was 49 and had already tried several advanced treatments as his symptoms were progressing quickly

Meet Martin Hannigan, a Belfast cyclist who is back on his bike after major brain surgery.

Martin was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2017 when he was 49. By 2022, his symptoms were progressing quickly. He had already tried several advanced treatments but nothing worked.

Parkinson’s is a complex brain condition that gets worse over time. It has more than 40 symptoms, from tremor and pain to anxiety, and there is no cure. Someone is diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the UK every 20 minutes and by 2050, the number of people living with the condition worldwide will double to 25 million.

For Martin, DBS surgery was a final throw of the dice. DBS, also known as Deep Brain Stimulation, involves fitting wires into the brain of the Parkinson’s patient. These wires are then connected to a pulse generator (a device like a heart pacemaker) placed under the skin around the chest or stomach area. The device helps with Parkinson’s motor symptoms, including tremor, rigidity and slowness of movement.

Martin explained: “Before my surgery, I tried hard to keep pushing through, especially with my cycling. I knew I had to look after myself. Exercise is the only proven way to slow down the progression of the condition.

“But my Parkinson’s progressed to a point where I couldn’t cycle. I started using a walking stick, then I couldn’t make it to the end of the street, and eventually, I couldn’t even pick things up. DBS changed everything. Now I’m back on my bike and living life to the fullest.”

Now Martin is preparing for Pedal Causeway Coast on Sunday, June 28. He is tackling the 100-mile route across the Causeway Coast – a feat he can only attempt thanks to his life-changing brain surgery.

He has conquered many charity rides before, but this is his first time fundraising for Parkinson’s UK in Northern Ireland.

“I’ve never thought of myself as someone who needs help, but I see others in our Parkinson’s community who are further down the road. They need support. This ride is for them. I can still pedal these roads, but many can’t. Maybe someday I’ll need to reach out too, which is why I’m backing Parkinson’s UK,” Martin added.

With three routes available, Martin didn’t hesitate to choose the longest: “I’m taking on the full 100 miles because there’s no point doing it by halves! It might take me longer than the others to reach the finish line, but I will get myself round. This is about fundraising, supporting a great charity, and spreading the word.”

For Martin, cycling is the perfect analogy for life: “Nobody likes cycling up a hill. But you have to climb up to get the reward of the descent. You have to get your head down and keep moving forward, otherwise you’ll miss the good stuff on the other side. That’s life. You just have to keep going.”

To find out more about Pedal Causeway Coast and to sign up to take part visit: https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/event/pedal-causeway-coast/

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Police rushed to reports of a fight in a Cambridgeshire town

A man who fled a fight scene has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill in a Cambridgeshire town. Officers were called at around 4pm on Friday, June 12 to reports of two men fighting next to St Peters and St Paul’s Church in Wisbech.

Officers attended the scene but arrived to find that one of the men involved had fled and tried to hide behind a car. A member of the public offered one of the force’s officers a lift.

The officer was able to “surprise” the 33-year-old man who made off and arrested him on suspicion of assault amounting to grievous bodily harm (GBH) and threats to kill. He has since been bailed until September 7.

Manchester United are looking to sell Manuel Ugarte this summer and a reunion could be on the cards for the Uruguayan

AC Milan are contemplating a move to rescue Manuel Ugarte from his Manchester United ordeal. United are eager to sell Ugarte to the highest bidder this summer and Italian heavyweights Milan are mulling over a deal to bring the Uruguayan midfielder back together with Ruben Amorim.

United acquired Ugarte from Paris Saint Germain in 2024 in a transfer worth £42m. However, the midfielder has struggled to establish himself with the English club. He has started only 30 league matches across two seasons – and dropped down the hierarchy when Kobbie Mainoo reclaimed his position in the side during the latter half of the previous campaign.

And Michael Carrick has informed Ugarte he doesn’t feature in his future plans. United have brought in Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Atalantaand are poised to submit an offer for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes.

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Ugarte recognises he has no prospects at Old Trafford and has asked his representative, Jorge Mendes, to secure him a new club. Mendes has now initiated discussions with Milan regarding a potential transfer.

Amorim, who has been appointed Milan’s new head coach, previously managed Ugarte during his triumphant spell at Sporting, and subsequently during his disappointing period in the Old Trafford hot seat. High expectations surrounded Ugarte – especially after Amorim’s appointment – but he never lived up to his price tag.

Speaking two months prior to his dismissal as United manager, Amorim acknowledged he was collaborating intensively with Ugarte in an attempt to help him recapture his finest form. He said: “You can sense a lot of very good players come here, and sometimes they struggle. He is struggling at the moment but it is our job to try to help and help him to feel like I felt when he was a Sporting player.

“But it is a different world. He needs to adapt, and he needs to improve, especially in training.”

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United are hoping to recover a substantial portion of the fee they spent on Ugarte – and are demanding approximately £30m.

Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani is unwilling to match the valuation, but additional discussions are scheduled in an attempt to find middle ground.

A strong World Cup campaign could aid United’s position, with Ugarte having started Uruguay’s opening fixture as they were held by Saudi Arabia.

They meet Cape Verde on Sunday, before completing the group stage against Spain on June 27.

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National Highways said specialist contractors spent the day treating contamination caused by the spill.

However, the damage was so severe that the affected carriageway must now be resurfaced before it can safely reopen.

The closure at junction 15, where the M60 meets the M61, has led to delays of more than 30 minutes.

The disruption follows a multi-vehicle collision during this morning’s rush hour (June 16).

Greater Manchester Police said the crash appeared to involve five vehicles, although National Highways initially reported that it involved a car and two heavy goods vehicles.

No serious injuries have been reported and no arrests have been made.

Drivers have been diverted via the M61, with routes available through junction 4 and the Kearsley Spur.

Earlier updates confirmed that all vehicles involved in the collision had been removed from the carriageway.

One commuter caught up in the disruption told The Bolton News: “I’m sitting in standstill traffic and have been for the past hour.

“Two ambulances have driven past, and all lanes are stationary.

“I hope everyone is okay.”

Motorists are being urged to allow extra time for their journeys and consider alternative routes while the closure remains in place.

National Highways said the motorway will reopen only after resurfacing work has been completed and inspections have confirmed it is safe for traffic.

Chelsea confirmed the exit of Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid on Monday, and will now look to sign a replacement. Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, a former Blues player, is said to be of interest. Man United – also admirers of Hall – are set to confirm Ederson as their first summer signing, and have been credited with interest in Bouaddi and a double swoop on West Ham for £50m-rated Crysencio Summerville and Mateus Fernandes, who could cost close to a club-record fee, which is currently more than what United want to pay.

Almost half of teachers in Scotland have reported pupils using the addictive Snus-style pouches during school time.

Concerns are mounting over the number of children using nicotine pouches in Scotland’s schools. Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) Scotland said new addictive trends, including the rise of Snus-style products, have followed the surge in vaping.

A 2025 report by the teachers’ union NASUWT found 46% of teachers in Scotland reported their pupils using nicotine pouches during school time.

The pouches, often labelled “Snus” after a similar Swedish tobacco product, are designed to be placed between the user’s lips and gum, where they release nicotine.

Ash Scotland said teachers have consistently raised concerns about the rise in nicotine products being used by young people. The charity has announced free learning resources to help educators tackle the issue.

Sheila Duffy, chief executive of Ash Scotland, said: “Our new e-learning module is designed to provide a resource for educators to learn about the negative impacts that nicotine use can have on the lives of children and young people.

“Following the upsurge in youth vaping, a new generation is being attracted to using other addictive, health-harming products such as nicotine pouches.

“Drawing in new customers produces huge profits for the tobacco industry, but at a cost to the health and wellbeing of our young people and disruption in the classroom.

“We trust that our new nicotine pouches e-learning module will help teachers and youth workers to build their knowledge and confidence to start discussions with children and help them make informed choices about protecting their health and wellbeing.”

Mike Corbett, NASUWT national official for Scotland, said teachers have expressed “serious concerns” that the regulation of nicotine products has “failed to keep pace with innovation by the companies selling them”.

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He said: “The recently published guidance for schools on how to address substance abuse among pupils was welcomed but this is only a first step.

“We need a greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention at all ages to stop children and young people from being drawn into nicotine pouch use.

“NASUWT has therefore welcomed the e-learning materials from Ash Scotland as one part of a wider systemic response needed to tackle substance misuse in schools.”

Teachers can access the Ash Scotland e-module at ashscotlandmoodle.org.uk.