They are little stars.

And the children featuring in a new charity calendar in Huddersfield are not just models – they are role models.

The calendar has been produced by the Slaithwaite-based arts charity Shabang!, which works with a range of people who all have additional needs, including Down syndrome and autism.

The 2015 calendar features children and young adults from its programme of projects and its theme this year is ‘What a Wonderful World’. Each page features children.

Volcanic Explorers: Nina Allen, Toby Farey, Ava Lockwood and Marley Watson
Volcanic Explorers: Nina Allen, Toby Farey, Ava Lockwood and Marley Watson

and young people in different geographical locations and is accompanied by the appropriate Makaton symbols and signs.

Makaton is a language programme designed specifically for children with communication and learning difficulties and organisers hope the calendar will be a perfect educational tool for both schools and families.

Working alongside photographer Mike Barratt from Frogs Design, Shabang! has used backdrops featuring a range of geographical locations for each month from caves, mountains and volcanoes to deserts, beaches and islands.

Kim Reuter, of Shabang!, said: “Raising positive awareness and celebrating our children is definitely the name of the game.

“We aim to challenge perceptions and celebrate difference”.

Shabang! recently won the National Diversity Awards 2014 in the Community Award for Disability section, gaining recognition for the work it does with families with a child with additional needs.

Image from Shabang 2015 calender - Garden Girls: Lilly Johnson, Kate Woods, Alice O'Flynn and Macey Crowther
Garden Girls: Lilly Johnson, Kate Woods, Alice O'Flynn and Macey Crowther

The calendar is also raising money this year for two local charities who provide a much needed and cherished service providing care and support free of charge

to children and young people with a life-limiting illness and their families – Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice and Martin House Children’s Hospice.

The calendar is £9.99 and is available to buy from Shabang’s website https:// www.shabang.org.uk/product.php?id=63 , from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk

or by calling the Shabang office on 01484 848073.