Nicole Haynes

South West Londoner •

Inside the UK’s top performing arts schools

Each year, thousands of budding performers audition for dance and drama schools across the UK. These highly competitive institutions select the best-of-the-best to train into industry professionals. There’s no business like show business, but what is it really like inside these institutions?

Former students from Bird College and Masters Performing Arts revealed shocking instances of body-shaming which they describe as the norm across the industry. Allegations indicate highly pressured environments where staff focus on dancers' appearances rather than their health and well-being.
Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU on Pexels
North East Londoner •

Cross-country relay race to fundraise for Maggie’s cancer charity

A friendship group spanning the country has organised a relay race from Manchester to London to fundraise for Maggie’s cancer charity in May.

From the 10th-11th May, the 48-hour fundraiser for Maggie’s will involve Northerners and Southerners racing from the charity’s centre in Manchester to Buckingham Palace.

After running the equivalent of a half-marathon each, the teams will compete in a football match and darts night at BarKick in Shoreditch.
The New Age Magazine •

Festival Republic relaunches ReBalance initiative for women and gender-expansive UK artists

Selected artists will be offered support by industry experts in the form of mentorship and educational days in both London and Manchester, culminating in a showcase at the end of

Each act will be paired with a producer and studio for a recording project, and their studio time will be led or assisted by a woman or gender-expansive professional.

“Rebalance aims to address some of the challenges along the new music pipeline journey,

The project was initially launched in 2017 and occurred for thr
South West Londoner •

Strictly star Ellie Leach to commence stage acting debut at Richmond Theatre

Strictly Come Dancing winner Ellie Leach will commence her stage acting debut in Richmond this month.

The reigning champion will be playing Miss Scarlett in the 75th anniversary tour of CLUEDO 2 at Richmond Theatre from the 29th of February.

This comes following her Glitterball trophy victory in December with dance partner Vito and subsequent UK Strictly Come Dancing tour.

Ellie said: “I’m really looking forward to being on stage each night.

“It’s going to be amazing to take on this new expe
The New Age Magazine •

｡✬E-Chat✬: Wings Of Desire

TNAM caught up with the pair to discuss their recent album and to hear more about their song-writing process. Little and Taylor discuss their artistic influences, questions they have about the world around them and reveal what is coming up for

How did you guys meet and when did you start making music together?

Chloe: James and I were playing in different bands when we were younger and crossed paths at a gig at The Lexington in London. It was a nice full circle moment because we ended our las
The New Age Magazine •

｡°✩Artist spotlight✮ ⋆ ˚: Prima Queen

Prima Queen have taken the UK music scene by storm over the past year, playing main-stage festival slots and touring with the likes of The Big Moon, Wet Leg and Dream Wife. Fronted by cross-atlantic duo, Louise Macphail and Kristin McFadden, the bands’ music combines angelic vocals with vulnerable sentiments.After stumbling across them at The Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham, and watching their sets at two festivals this summer, I can vouch that these guys have something special.

Their sound stan
Photo by Wendy Wei on Pexels
South West Londoner •

Nicki Minaj, 21 Savage and Doja Cat to headline Wireless Festival 2024

Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat and 21 Savage have been announced as this year’s headliners at Wireless Festival in London.

Taking place in Finsbury Park from the 12th-14th July, other stars performing in 2024 include J Hus, Future and Ice Spice.

With some of the biggest names in global rap music, hip-hop fans have expressed extreme excitement over the lineup reveal.

London rapper 21 Savage said: “I’m so happy to be returning home to the UK and headlining Wireless for the very first time.”

21 Savage a
Photo by Fabrício Lira on Pexels
South West Londoner •

The black-owned dance school in London advocating for diversity in ballet

A dance school in south London is breaking down barriers to ballet by providing safe and inclusive classes specifically for black and non-white dancers.

Director and principal, Ruth Essel, founded Pointe Black in Battersea to provide dancers of colour a welcoming environment to learn ballet.

With only 2.2% of dancers at the UK’s top four ballet companies being of black heritage, Essel was inspired by her own experience as a black dancer to found an inclusive school.

Essel said: “I wanted to a
North East Londoner •

Youth Club in Islington ‘the place where it all began’ for Little Simz

A youth club in Islington was recognised by rapper Little Simz as instrumental to her success.

The independent artist, real name Simbiatu Ajikawo, performed two triumphant homecoming shows earlier this month and has previously dedicated her success to Mary’s Youth Club on Upper Street, Islington.

The organisation offers young people recreational spaces and activities, including performing arts opportunities, sports groups and social events.

Mary’s is a free community organisation that support
The New Age Magazine •

NEW SINGLE RELEASE - Wings of Desire 'Chance of a Lifetime / I Will Try My Best'

Their new singles ‘Chance of a Lifetime’ and ‘I Will Try My Best’ draw on these existentialist philosophies by juxtaposing joyful sounds with self-reflective lyrics. Reminiscent of the early 90s, the tracks pair traditional indie guitar riffs with metaphysical lyricism by looking at time and impermanence.

The duo, Chloe Little and James Taylor, adopted their name from the Wim Wenders film. The band nod to their cinematic name by embracing the thread between audio and visuals in their music vide
Photo by Karolina Grabowska on Pexels
DollarGeek •

How Much Does Credit Repair Cost?

You can expect to pay anywhere between $60 to $200 a month for a subscription service, so consider the length of time you expect to be paying this fee when comparing companies.

For example, if it takes roughly six months to repair your credit score, and you pay $150 a month, then it can cost you upwards of $900 for the entire service.

The Credit Repair Organizations Act requires companies to provide customers with a firm total of costs and an estimated time frame, so make sure this is given to
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels
DollarGeek •

Best Roth IRA Accounts Of 2024

A Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is one of the best places to save for retirement. Why? Because you put money in this account after paying income taxes on it and then your investments grow entirely tax-free.

Roth IRA’s will offer more flexible investment options in your account and, if you follow the account rules, during retirement you won’t have to pay any tax on your withdrawals.

It can be helpful to establish what type of investor you are when searching for the best Roth IRA acco
Redbrick •

Single Review: Impurities - Arlo Parks | Music

Music Critic Nicole Haynes reviews Arlo Parks’ latest single ‘Impurities’, praising Parks’ gentle sound which we can expect on her next album

Arlo Parks’ latest single ‘Impurities’ whimsically embodies community, friendship, love and acceptance. The second single from her upcoming album The Soft Machine, ‘Impurities’ explores self-love and healing in true Parks style. Her soft vocals and intimate lyrics are matched by an alt-pop instrumental.

Parks reflected that the song is about ‘being aroun
The Publishing Post •

Eco-Literacy in Children’s Books

Children’s books act as fantastic resources for learning about various aspects of the world. In recent years, eco-literacy has flourished in both fiction and non-fiction children’s genres. From the likes of David Attenborough to Beatrix Potter, environmental themes increasingly dominate top-selling children’s books. For use at bedtime or in a classroom, these are the Children’s team's favourite books discussing the environment.

This is a beautifully simple story told wordlessly through a series
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Cost of Living Crisis and University Strikes: The Student Experience in 2023

In the midst of a global pandemic, rising cost of living and extensive budget cuts, the UK has faced considerable challenges over recent years. Students are particularly impacted by this, balancing the aftermath of remote learning, staff strikes and expensive living costs.

This month university staff across England are striking and are set to continue well into March. With 150 universities impacted and 70,000 staff taking industrial action, student’s education is expected to remain heavily disrupted.
The Publishing Post •

Nielsen BookScan 2022

Nielsen BookData was first established in 1858 and provides the book industry with information on the distribution and sales measurements of books across the UK and Ireland. Annually they release their BookScan, examining trends and popular titles across the publishing industry by considering consumer markets. This article will explore the coverage of children’s and YA books in the 2022 BookScan, delving into what was popular last year and what that might mean for children’s books as we head fur
The Publishing Post •

Children’s End of Year Round-Up

This profound picture book is based on writer Wafa Tarnowska’s childhood experiences while taking shelter in her basement during a civil war in Lebanon. When their Syrian city becomes a battleground for war, Nour and her cousin courageously sneak out of their shelter to gather books for their secret library. By embracing the humanity that remains when all seems lost, this 2022 release explores how books provide hope and comfort in times of despair.
Photo by Timur Weber on Pexels

Britain’s Homeless Crisis: “Catastrophic” impact of freezing cold temperatures

Last week temperatures across the UK dropped below freezing with many places covered in snow and ice. The record for the coldest night of the year was broken twice, and the cold weather is set to continue according to warnings from the Met Office.



The worsening cost-of-living crisis and soaring energy bills mean that many households across the UK are struggling to make ends meet. It is estimated that nearly one million households on low incomes fear eviction this winter.
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