BALLROOM dancing for people with learning disabilities is one of a number of events aimed at getting people to use county art venues this weekend.

People supported by Wallingford charity Style Acre took a twirl at Didcot’s Cornerstone Arts Centre yesterday.

The dance session was part of Something for the Weekend, a programme of events organised by the arts centre, taking place at seven arts venues today and tomorrow.

The charity, which supports people with learning disabilities and helps them to live at home, organised the event as part of National Learning Disability Awareness Week. Senior support worker Wendy Towersey said: “As well as raising awareness, the event provided an opportunity for people to come along, join in, express their creativity and have fun.”

The arts centre has also fitted a hoist to its disabled toilet as part of the national Changing Places campaign to improve accessibility.

The venues have put on the programme to encourage people to visit their local arts centre.

The first weekend was in 2011.

Bethan James, a spokeswoman for the Style Acre campaign, said: “We want to help more residents to try out their nearest venue or have a day out somewhere different.”

The charity is based at Evenlode House, Howbery Park, in Benson Lane, Crowmarsh Gifford.

Style Acre Friends was formed as a registered charity in 1992 by a group of parents who wanted to secure the future of the residential home where their adult children were living.

They raised the money to buy the home and took over running it in 1995. The home was sold in 2004 and the proceeds used to buy housing in local towns and villages.

Style Acre also runs a day centre in Abingdon Road, Didcot, which opened last year.

Other events include:

  • North Wall, South Parade, Oxford: Art exhibition by St Edward’s School pupils, noon to 4pm.
  • Oxford Playhouse, Beaumont Street, Oxford: Drop-in session to try on costumes, 10am to 1pm.
  • Pegasus, Magdalen Road, Oxford: Behind the scenes tours at 10am, noon, 2pm and 4pm, including workshops on light, sound and effects.
  • Cornerstone, Station Road, Didcot: Clay sculpture workshop for adults with additional needs, 11am to 1pm.
  • Arts of the Old Fire Station, George Street, Oxford: The Taming of the Shrew, 7.30pm. £12/£10.
  • The Theatre, Spring Street, Chipping Norton: Youth theatre taster, 10am and 12.30pm.
  • The Mill Arts Centre, Spiceball Park, Banbury: Live music in the foyer from 1pm to 8pm.