YOUNG people with additional needs have joined a new performance group at New College.

The Spotlight group meets on Tuesday nights at 7pm at the college to practice their singing, learn choreographed routines, and make new friends.

Professional singing and choreography teachers Maryrose Higgins and Sharon Lloyd set up the group in September.

Maryrose said: "Our aspirations are to give young people more confidence, more self-belief and hope they have fun while performing.

"If they're stressed or anxious at school, that all goes out the window when they come here and they go home happy.

"They need a bit of help socially but they're all brilliant singers and they have a lot of fun."

Sharon said: "I was a teacher at Swindon College, working with people who had additional needs and doing that I met a lot of people.

"Swindon is such a talented town but there's not a lot out there for people with additional needs.

"I've always had a love of performing and Maryrose taught choreography for years so we knew we had the skills we needed to form this group.

"Some of the people I knew were interested in joining it, then we advertised on social media and it spread quite quickly.

"People are joining all the time, we had new members attend a couple of weeks ago, the word is spreading.

"It's also lovely to see familiar faces come back week after week."

Group members are mainly 18-to-25-year-olds but the group is open to anyone - the oldest member is in her 50s.

While Maryrose and Sharon conduct warm-up songs and teach the group new moves from the front of the class, helpful volunteers look on from the sidelines, ready to assist anyone who's struggling with the routines.

The group's favourite song to sing as a warm-up is The Beatles' 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand', while the main bulk of the lesson is a mix of musical theatre, covers from hit TV show Glee, and some of the students' personal favourites.

Spotlight are hoping to put on a show at New College's Phoenix Theatre in the spring to showcase the group's new and improved skills.

Sharon added: "We are on track with rehearsals and everyone's really enjoying it.

"It's astonishing how far they've come.

"My dream would be for everyone to come along and have a really inclusive group, whether they have additional needs or are just shy.

"Come along and have a go, it's amazing what can happen."

Maryrose added: "If you've ever wanted to perform but felt like something was holding you back and you just need a bit of encouragement, that's what Sharon and I offer."