Skip to content

Cumbria Valentine's Day disco brings people with learning disabilities together

A special dating disco has been held in Cumbria for people with learning disabilities to come together for Valentine's Day.

My Community Penrith set up the night ahead of 14 February after noticing a lack of local opportunities for people with autism and learning difficulties to meet others.

Cristina Bowman, from the project, says she hopes following its success it can become a regular event, with different themes.

Video produced by Harry Hansen

Follow BBC Cumbria on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].

14 February 2024

Learning disability

Valentine's Day

Explore More

Frank, boy in soldier's outfit. He wears a bearskin hat and red uniform with medals on.

'We're remembering the soldiers - my heroes'

Emily Harding started the centre in July 2024

'It means a lot to go somewhere with no judgement'

Screengrab showing plumes of black smoke coming out of a building at nighttime

Thick smoke as fire breaks out at UK nuclear sub shipyard

Deirdre Shakespeare wearing a white blouse and gold necklace. She has wavy blonde hair and is outside. There are trees and fields behind her.

Mother 'vindicated' by report into autistic son's treatment

Northern Ireland

Muriel and Ibraheem at a coffee machine

Café trains adults with learning disabilities

Abbie Freeman

Growing up with dyslexia: 'What if I can't read?'

A man with red hair, wearing a hi-vis vest over the top of a Carlisle United football shirt.

Club rep encourages autistic fans to attend games

Davy Keenan walking towards his boat Little Gem

'My home's a working museum piece, it's a gem'

David Aris insisted he did not feel nervous as he sped through the air

Daredevil, 94, braves world's longest zipline

Anthorn village sign

'It was like a ghost village when we came in'

The five members of The Silver Bars band lined up outside a shop

'To go and play at the festival is fantastic'

Harrison Holmes, the radio DJ with cerebral palsy, during his school assembly

Radio DJ with cerebral palsy inspires school pupils

BBC general election branding on a purple background

Truckers on the A66 share their views on the election

A traveller wrangling a horse at the Appleby horse fair

Crowds celebrate at 248th Appleby Horse Fair

Annabel Tiffin with election breakdown

How the general election could affect the North West

Sir Chris Bonington at his Cumbria home

Sir Chris Bonington's life on the mountains

Charles

'I lived in hospital for 50 years but wasn’t ill'

Members of the theatre group on stage

'I wouldn't speak, now I can't shut up'

Tyler standing proudly in St James' Park stands with the flag of himself

Newcastle stars surprise young fan with flag

Children from three schools in Windermere are learning how to rap

School children tackle e-bike safety with rap music

Men's champion Tommy Mattinson says the event brings the community together

Gurners grimace in championship face-off

Gurners sign up on the night then its hideous faces galore at the World Gurning Championships.

One of the many gravity-powered vehicles for 2024's soapbox derby

Thousands roll into town for annual soapbox derby

Teams in Barrow make a kart relying on only their strength and gravity to get to the finish line.

Fell runners honouring Joss Naylor ahead of his funeral

'We're here to celebrate the life of Joss Naylor'

Hundreds of fell runners honour record-breaking veteran athlete Joss Naylor at his funeral.

Dave and Lili Myers

'Dave was exactly like the one you saw on TV'

Barrow is expected to come to a standstill when thousands of bikers descend to honour Dave Myers.

Donald Campbell's Bluebird craft in Coniston

Crowds gather to watch Campbell's Bluebird return home

Donald Campbell's Bluebird is back in the Lake District 57 years after its pilot was killed in a crash.

Ron Odgen, who worked on Spitfire planes 78 years ago

Veteran sees Spitfire for first time in decades

Nearly 80 years ago a young lad arrived at a remote Navy base and fell in love with a certain plane.

80-year-old Nora Newton, indoor bowls tournament finalist

'I play to win, that's what the whole point is'

80-year-old Nora has reached the final of a national indoor bowls tournament.

Children being taught sign language at Dane Ghyll Community Primary School

Children being taught sign language in primary school

The school in Barrow is one of the first in the country to introduce sign language to its curriculum.

Leo Mason

'Climbing the mountains helps my tics a lot'

A nine-year-old boy with Tourette's is aiming to conquer all 214 Wainwrights in the Lake District.

Marjorie Curtin

'If I'd have closed my eyes, it would've gone in'

Marjorie Curtin from Kendal tells how she won her golf club medal at the age of 93.

Cumbrian racing driver Jess Edgar

F1 Academy winner shows 'girls are good enough'

Teenage Cumbrian racing star Jess Edgar celebrates her first win in the F1 Academy series in Texas.

Llamas and alpacas on the A66 in Cumbria

Llamas on the loose bring traffic to a standstill

Drivers got caught up in an unusual traffic jam thanks to dozens of escaped llamas and alpacas.

Girl Guides

Girlguiding badge to encourage mental health talk

The Twinkle for Heather Girlguiding badge aims to help young people talk about mental health.

dolphin rescue

Beached dolphin helped back out to sea

A dolphin stuck on the tideline in Cumbria is helped back out to sea by local aquarium staff.

Helen Rebanks, the farmer's wife, with two of her sheepdogs

A day in the life of a farmer's wife

The farmer's wife is traditionally seen as the supporting role, but for Helen Rebanks, it is a badge of honour.

Jack was on his way to school when he lost his special mini figure, known as Lego Jack.

Missing poster plea reunites boy with Lego man

Jack was on his way to school when he lost his special mini figure, known as Lego Jack.

Asylum seekers, Hilltop United FC

Asylum seeker team 'first' to be affiliated by FA

Hilltop United FC is made up entirely of asylum seekers who live in Carlisle.

Cumbrian red squirrel eating in the sunlight

Filming red squirrels a 'labour of love project'

Film-maker Terry Abraham spent nearly two years capturing the Lake District's native red squirrels.

Stuart Hann, The Blind Chocolatier

Blind chocolatier realises his sweet dream

Stuart Hann has a rare hereditary sight disorder which affects fewer than 2,000 people in the UK.

This is the moment hundreds of water voles are welcomed back to the Lake District.

Water voles on the brink of extinction reintroduced

This is the moment hundreds of water voles are welcomed back to the Lake District.