A NEW arts project from Farnham Maltings’ resident dance organisation The Dance Movement is supporting young carers in Surrey by helping them to tell their stories through arts, crafts and performance.

Wise Words, funded by Farnham Maltings, Action for Carers and the Community Foundation for Surrey, is a creative project designed by Nicky Norton from The Dance Movement and is free for young carers to join.

A taster session will run from 6pm to 8pm on Wednesday, March 28 at the Maltings, giving participants an idea of what the project will be like and have the chance to try out some art, craft and performance skills.

This will be followed by three project days on April 4, 5 and 24, and ultimately an exhibition at the Farnham Maltings of all the young people’s creations. Transport to the sessions is available.

Rachel Deadman, artistic director at The Dance Movement, said: "Young carers are among the most vulnerable people in our community and yet they provide amazing support to their families - and indirectly to wider society - by caring for and carrying out practical tasks that public and health services might otherwise be required to do.

"With Wise Words, we are providing opportunities to young carers to experience the positive outcomes of dance: physical activity, free expression, building confidence and collaborating with others to name just a few.

"If you are a young carer and love to act, draw, dance, craft, paint, talk or create, please come along!"

To register or book on the whole project, email Nicky at [email protected] or call 07931 730102.

* The Dance Movement has expressed its "disappointment" after a Guinness World Record attempt to hold the world’s largest simultaneous dance class on Friday was aborted after recruiting just half of the 30,000 people needed to set a new record.

Despite this, the Maltings’ resident dance company encouraged the 16,000 children from dozens of schools across Surrey and Hampshire who signed up for its Let’s Dance challenge to take part as planned so that thousands of pounds can be raised for Sport Relief.

Artistic director, Rachel said: "While we are disappointed not to be taking part in the World Record attempt, on a positive note, we have made contact with a wonderful network of schools that are interested in dance and curious to know how it can enrich the curriculum.

"We look forward to working with them to provide more children with the chance to be artistic, expressive and active."

Find more information online at www.thedancemovement.co.uk.