IT started out eight years ago as a performance group with less than 10 students.

But now Ella is helping to transform the lives of almost 90 people, aged between five and 75, with a range of learning difficulties, physical disabilities and mental health issues.

Mal Hampson, who helped set up Ella, looked back at the performance group’s accomplishments as she prepares for Disability Awareness Week in Warrington. Ella will be presenting its summertime special on Wednesday evening at Walton Gardens with recreations of scenes from its recent shows.

The group, which scooped two Clapperboard awards in 2014 for its film, We Are People Too, which was written, performed and directed by its members, will also be performing on the arts marquee on Disability Awareness Day on Sunday.

“It makes a tremendous difference to their lives,” said Mal, who has worked in learning disability services for 38 years.

“They’re learning performing arts but it’s about the confidence and self-esteem they develop and that flows into their everyday lives. It’s about having the confidence to speak up, to be assertive and to be in control of your life – things we all take for granted.”

Ella, based in Runcorn, mostly focuses on musical theatre but ukulele and guitar classes are being introduced. The students are taught by paid tutors with a background in stage work and TV including Rachael Lindsay, who was in Brookside.

Mal, 65, added: “When you see them on stage you don’t see the disability. They walk through the doors sometimes and they’re quite shy and don’t want to engage.

“We had a young woman who joined us very early on in the group and hardly said anything and she stood on stage at The Brindley and sang in front of 400 people. It’s a transformation we see.”

Ella was set up by its sister organisation Halton Speaks Out, which works with people with learning disabilities.

Mal said: “We realised that some opportunities for young people, especially around performing arts, were quite limited. They found it really hard to access other groups. A lot of performing art is exam based which was a barrier to them. So we decided to set up our own performance group.

“It was really part of educating people that having an additional need should not stop you being a part of your community. It’s not about having special clubs and special places. They work fine for people but we wanted something which was a bit different.

“With most performing arts group they have mainstream students and they invite people with learning disabilities to be part of it. We work the other way around. We set up as a group for people with learning disabilities and invited non-disabled people to be part of it.”

There are now 89 students in four groups and the group’s patrons include Ricky Tomlinson and Linda Nolan among others.

Mal added: “We were astounded by the success. We had about eight people to start with and very quickly the numbers were growing. But we were also attracting non-disabled people especially younger members of our community.

“And it’s wonderful to see them with their peers working together. They don’t see difference. I think the other side to Ella is the opportunity it gives to our 25 volunteers who work tirelessly. They are an amazing group of people.

“They come to all of our rehearsals and support our members on stage. Some volunteers have used Ella as a stepping stone for their careers and university placements based on their experiences here.

“And some of our parents make all our costumes. It’s been really good as some of them felt isolated and now they’ve got their own network group.”

For more information about Ella call 01928 713877.