Cause UK

28/05/2026

We have organised Working Classical Hero on 21st June, 2pm with Besbrode Pianos Leeds and Decca Records — an inspiring afternoon of live music, conversation and creativity featuring Channel 4’s The Piano breakout star Ellis Arey and Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Eliot Kennedy.

Co-designed with Melvin Besbrode our aim is to ignite ambition and inspire young working class musicians.

Working Classical Hero explores how resilience, talent and determination can open doors in the music industry — whatever your background.

Email [email protected] if you would like to put forward a young person for a free ticket.

15/05/2026

Partners in crime, The Reading Agency and the The Crime Writers' Association, are plotting to get the nation reading during National Crime Reading Month. June is the official month for (fictional) murder and mayhem. Read more

The Crime Writers' Association and The Reading Agency plot to get the nation reading for National Crime Reading Month.

15/05/2026

Rafe, a student from York is preparing to run the length of Britain in June, raising vital funds for a charity working to find a cure for the brain cancer that killed his father. Rafe is Clair’s son, founder of Cause and Effect PR.

Rafe Colman-Chadwick, 20, a Politics and Social Policy student at the University of York, is set to take on an extraordinary 874-mile challenge from John o’ Groats to Land’s End. He is fundraising for Brain Tumour Research in memory of his dad, Damian Colman, who died from a glioblastoma in September 2018 at the age of 48. Rafe has already raised more than £10,000 for the charity and hopes to raise even more through this latest challenge.

Rafe said: “I’ve never really spoken publicly about losing my dad before but doing my first marathon changed that. The support I got from people was incredible, and it made me realise how many people care about this cause.

15/05/2026

Working-class communities must be at the heart of the green energy transition, climate action organisation Threads in the Ground has warned.

The North East is rapidly emerging as the UK’s renewable energy powerhouse. The region has strong foundations to lead the renewable energy transition, including world-class universities, a growing clean-tech sector, highly skilled workforce, and access to some of Europe’s most significant offshore wind resources.

This ambition is supported by the North East Combined Authority, Mayor Kim McGuinness, Industry Minister Chris McDonald MP, and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband MP, with the UK’s renewable sector expected to support up to one million jobs nationwide.

Threads in the Ground is working with the Durham Energy Council, a volunteer group from former mining communities, to inform a new energy manifesto.

The latest consultation with the Durham Energy Council took place on 12 May at Blackhall Community Centre in County Durham.

Alison Paterson, a miner’s daughter and manager of the Blackhall Community Centre, said: “Forty years after the collapse of Britain’s coal industry devastated our communities, the green energy revolution must not repeat the mistakes of the past. Former miners, workers, and the local community must be consulted so they are not left behind. This new industry is a unique chance to rebuild social connection and community.”

The organisation warns that economic transformation without community participation risks repeating the failures of the coal industry’s decline.

Adam Cooper, Director of Threads in the Ground, said: “It’s vital that the renewable transition delivers real, lasting social gains. Coalfield communities didn’t just power industry, they built strong social infrastructure, from welfare halls and brass bands to workers’ rights and educational initiatives. The Durham Miners’ Association laid the groundwork for institutions as transformative as the NHS. With the right foundations, extraordinary achievements are possible.”

The North East is home to some of the largest offshore wind developments in the world and is attracting significant international investment.

Adam said: “The North East has all the ingredients to become a European leader in renewable energy. But communities must be front and centre in decision-making. A just transition means ensuring working-class voices help shape what comes next.”

Threads in the Ground argues that the shift to green energy must build lasting social capital.

“Working-class communities powered previous energy revolutions,” Cooper added. “Community ownership models, local investment, and meaningful consultation will be essential to securing public support in this historic industrial region.”

Threads in the Ground will launch a Community Manifesto at Redhills in Durham, the historic ‘Pitman’s Parliament, on 11 June.

The manifesto will be sent to industry leaders, policymakers and renewable energy stakeholders to help ensure community voices shape regional strategy. One hundred copies of the manifesto will be distributed to decision-makers.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Cooper said. “As the transition accelerates, leaders must listen. The people of the North East should not simply experience change, they should help inform it.”

Cause UK is proud to represent Threads in the Ground.

15/05/2026

It is exciting to be part of the programming team for the Whitby Literature Festival again this year. We are thrilled to announce that acclaimed novelist John Boyne will be joining the the line up. 19th-22nd November 2026.

Whitby Lit Fest marks an exciting new chapter as it has been granted charitable status. The festival, which launched last year, was created to celebrate Whitby’s literary heritage, connect readers to contemporary writers, and inspire both readers and visitors.

Boyne is the author of 15 novels and is best known for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which became a New York Times No. 1 bestseller and was adapted for film, theatre, opera, and ballet, selling over 11 million copies worldwide. Among his many international bestsellers are The Heart’s Invisible Furies, A Ladder to the Sky, and All the Broken Places. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Observer, The Times Literary Supplement, The Irish Times, and in numerous international newspapers and magazines.

He will be discussing his new book, The Weight of Angels, a reimagining of the life of Oscar Wilde. Tickets will go on sale on 1st September.

23/04/2026

Happy from the Cause UK team...

Thanks to Stormzy for backing the Quick Reads campaign for our client The Reading Agency

Lots of libraries across the UK are giving away free Quick Reads books tonight to help hook reluctant/non-readers back into the habit.

And Spotify is offering FREE Quick Reads audiobooks too (just search 'World Book Night' on Spotify).

Reading is proven to reduce stress, boost empathy, strengthen neural networks, slow down memory decline, improve focus, and enhance sleep quality.

It should be prescribed!

Why not join in the tonight (7-8pm).

Reading is a superpower!

Stormzy has backed the National Reading Agency's Quick Reads programme which aims to get more adults into reading books.

30/03/2026

We know every town is going for this but deserves a shot! Pleased to volunteer to help launch the bid in the news today. Thanks to Gary Lawson Media for the fab photo.

Places have until tomorrow (March 31) to submit expressions of interest. Harrogate and Knaresborough have already revealed they plan to enter the competition, which the government set up to allow towns to enjoy the same spotlight afforded to those selected in the city of culture scheme.

26/03/2026

🎶 Tickets are LIVE this Saturday! 🎶

Get ready for 10 unforgettable days of music, culture, and countryside magic at the Northern Aldborough Festival 2026 🌿✨
📍 18–27 June | North Yorkshire

Now in its 32nd year, this much-loved festival transforms the beautiful village of Aldborough into a world-class stage for classical music and beyond.

🎤 Special guest announced: broadcaster Amol Rajan – expect an evening of insight, stories, and behind-the-scenes revelations from one of the UK’s most recognisable voices.

🎻 Opening night: The Orchestra of Opera North performs Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons
🎼 Highlights include:
• Emma Johnson with a star-studded trio
• Lucy Parham’s I, Clara narrated by Joanna David
• Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro by Wild Arts
• Rising stars in the New Voices Singing Competition
• Jazz legend Clark Tracey & quartet
• Genre-defying performances from Eleanor Grant & Gus McQuade

🌟 Plus: the iconic Last Night Outdoor Concert featuring Definitely Oasis 🎸
Pack a picnic, bring your friends, and dance under the stars with a spectacular firework finale 🎆

🍷 And don’t miss late-night vibes at The SHED

✨ “If you haven’t experienced the festival before, give it a try—and fall in love with it.” – Robert Ogden, Festival Director

🎟 Tickets on sale: Saturday 28 March
👉 Book now: aldboroughfestival.co.uk

WhatsOnUK MusicLovers SummerFestivals

26/03/2026

2026 Northern Aldborough Festival Tickets Go On Sale

Tickets for one of Yorkshire’s leading music festivals, the Northern Aldborough Festival, go on sale this Saturday 28 March.

Now in its 32nd year, the Northern Aldborough Festival puts the North Yorkshire village at the epicentre of classical music for ten days, from 18 to 27 June, 2026.

Joining its musical programme, the festival has just announced its special guest speaker will be one of Britain’s most dynamic broadcasters, Amol Rajan.

Born in Calcutta and raised in London, Amol’s path has taken him from student journalism at Cambridge to interviewing global figures, from Greta Thunberg to Bill Gates.

Amol Rajan said: “I can’t wait to visit Aldborough for this wonderful festival, not least to see the beautiful countryside of North Yorkshire, but above all to meets its glorious people. Over 20 years, I’ve lived through a revolution in the Media, wrought by Technology. I had a wonderful time in newspapers, and I’ve had a blast over the past decade at BBC News. But I’m leaving the TODAY Programme to embark on a new chapter and I cannot wait.”

A presenter on Radio 4’s Today programme and host of University Challenge, Amol has built a remarkable career. He became the BBC’s first Media Editor and previously served as Editor of The Independent at just twenty‑nine.

Amol added: “I very much hope the people of Aldborough can be persuaded out for a very enjoyable evening, full of mischief, anecdotage and insight, with stories I’m probably not allowed to tell about various escapes and escapades, interviews with global icons and not so iconic politicians, and the truth about what really happens when the gong sounds on University Challenge. I think we are going to have a night to remember.”

See link to book tickets in the comments.

24/03/2026

Huge congratulations to the Sunderland Culture Start team on sharing their interim report this week 👏

So inspiring to see what’s possible when a whole city comes together to open up arts and cultural opportunities for children living in poverty 💫

The message is clear: culture isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s essential. It builds confidence, supports wellbeing, strengthens friendships and plays a vital role in mental health.

One student from Sunderland College said it perfectly:
“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.”

Culture Start Sunderland shows the power of partnership and a shared commitment to improving life chances for every child. As Paul Callaghan said:
“When culture belongs to every child, the future belongs to them all.”

Brilliant to hear from Sir Nicholas Serota, alongside Michael Barrass and Nick Malyan.

And two quotes that really stayed with me:
“Every child is an artist.” – Picasso
“Every child is an artist until they are told they are not.” – John Lennon

If we want children to thrive and lead happier lives, we need sustained investment in arts and culture — especially in the North East 🎨

Great to see Colin Petch there, and huge thanks to the University of Sunderland Spark Radio students for their fantastic podcasting 🎙️

OpportunityForAll