New stair lift for pupils on stage

More pupils will be able to perform on stage at Newlands Girls' School thanks to a new stair lift unveiled on Monday.

The new disabled stage chair lift at the Farm Road school was funded in part by an £8,000 grant from the Variety Club charity and Newlands Parents' Association, £300 from Waitrose and £200 from a staff cake sale.

GCSE drama pupil and wheelchair user Natalie Brown said: "I feel more included in many aspects of school life, for example year group assemblies, and it increases my chances of being in school productions, which is an exciting opportunity."

Variety Club grants programme chairman Pamela Sinclair cut the pink ribbon along with Janet Armitage of the grants committee.

Pamela said: "We were absolutely delighted to help Newlands with its disabled stage chair lift.

"We were bowled over when we saw it in action, we are thrilled with it."

When not in use the lift becomes a normal set of stairs, which with a flick of a switch turns into a flat platform allowing wheelchair users to be conveyed up and down from the school stage.