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Katie Toner runs parties and sleepovers that are accessible to all children.

Her story is part of Radio 2’s 21st Century Folk, where singers write songs about real people from the North East of England.

Katie is from Northumberland. She is autistic and has ADHD, and due to those differences she found it very hard to enjoy typical children’s parties. Now a young adult, she is determined to create experiences that all children can enjoy.

Songwriter Angeline Morrison meets Katie, before writing a brand new song inspired by her life and work. The music is performed by Northumbrian band The Unthanks.

Angeline Morrison is from Birmingham and now lives in Cornwall. In 2022 she won Cambridge Folk Festival’s award for upcoming talent: the Christian Raphael Prize. She also released ‘The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs Of Black British Experience’, which was produced by Eliza Carthy for Topic Records.

The Unthanks are one of the UK’s most loved and respected folk groups and famously draw on their Northumbrian origins. Centred around the sibling harmonies of Rachel and Becky Unthank and the arrangements of Adrian McNally, their music is distinctive and beautiful. The Unthanks' 2022 album Sorrows Away hit the Official Albums Chart and followed their acclaimed work for Mackenzie Crook’s ±«Óãtv One series Worzel Gummidge.

21st Century Folk is inspired by the classic ±«Óãtv Radio Ballads. It sees five real listeners have songs written about their lives.

Mark Radcliffe presents.