Always on
This project successfully funded on 22nd April 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Inclusive Community Gaming Space in Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury, Shropshire, United Kingdom
Aim
Create a community gaming hub in Shrewsbury. Tackling social isolation and promoting mental wellbeing while being inclusive and accessible
Project Overview & Key Information
Following conversations with supporters and questions from the community, we’ve expanded this page to provide clearer detail about structure, funding, and long-term sustainability.
Below you’ll find a complete overview of the plan.
Our Structure
The Spectrum Space is a registered Community Interest Company (CIC), established with governing documents and a defined community benefit purpose.
The Spectrum Space is governed by three directors, bringing together experience in community organising, tabletop gaming, and inclusive practice.
Day-to-day project leadership is led by Dan as founder, supported by two fellow directors who share responsibility for governance and oversight.
The Type of Space We’re Seeking
We are actively exploring retail premises in or near Shrewsbury town centre that are:
- 1000 sq ft or larger
- Accessible by public transport
- Suitable for gaming tables and flexible layouts
- Able to accommodate both structured events and quieter areas
A space of this size locally typically requires:
- Around £1500 per month in rent
- A 3-month deposit (approximately £4500)
- Upfront setup costs before opening
*Figures are based on current local commercial listings for 1000+ sq ft premises in Shrewsbury and may vary depending on final unit secured.
What This Crowdfunder Will Fund
This campaign will contribute toward:
- Premises deposit
- Initial rent buffer
- Insurance and utilities setup
- Essential fit-out (tables, shelving, storage, lighting adjustments)
- Accessibility adaptations
- Core equipment
Why We’re Crowdfunding First
We are currently in a “chicken and egg” situation.
There are grant opportunities and funding streams available to us, particularly those aligned with mental health, inclusion, and community wellbeing, but most require us to have a secured premises before applying.
Without a fixed address, we cannot unlock that larger funding.
This Crowdfunder allows us to secure the premises first, which then enables us to pursue grant funding that supports long-term sustainability and expansion.
Your support helps us cross that first critical threshold.
About me
Hi, I’m Dan, Spectrum founder and project leader.
For most of my adult life, I struggled to get involved in local groups or social activities. Even when I really wanted to, walking into a new place on my own felt overwhelming. Social anxiety meant I often stayed home instead.
It took me over a year after first hearing about it to finally build up the courage to visit Nerdy, a board gaming café in the town centre.
Once I did, it genuinely changed my life. I found my tribe, a group of people who shared my passion for tabletop gaming and all things nerd culture. It was a place where I could finally unmask and just be myself, while feeling part of something bigger.
When Nerdy closed, my world felt like it was at risk of being flipped upside down. My friend group rallied and found temporary venues so we could keep meeting, but it hasn’t been the same. Attendance dropped, and over time our numbers dwindled.
I want to restore that feeling for the people of Shrewsbury, and make sure the next generation doesn’t have to wait so long to find a space that allows them to socialise in a way that actually works for them, and in turn, find themselves.
My Experience & Commitment
I already organise regular tabletop sessions locally and have continued doing so even without a permanent base.
This project isn’t starting from nothing. It’s building on an existing community that has shown it wants a stable home.
The Spectrum Space will operate as a CIC, meaning its purpose is community benefit. Any surplus generated will be reinvested into improving the space and expanding access.
This is about long-term impact, not a short-lived venture.
This Is Bigger Than One Hobby
Before launching this campaign, I wanted to make sure this wasn’t just my experience. So I asked people in and around Shrewsbury to share their thoughts and experiences.
In just a few days, over 100 people responded, including former Nerdy attendees, neurodivergent adults, parents, carers, and local residents who care deeply about community spaces.
What stood out most was how often the same themes came up.
Over a quarter of responses described the importance of feeling able to be themselves, feel accepted, or not have to mask. Over one in five people talked about needing a place where they feel safe to turn up and take part.
Many people shared how much having, or losing, a space like this affected their mental health. For some, Nerdy had been the one place they felt comfortable showing up alone, without pressure, judgement, or the need to explain themselves. When it closed, that sense of safety and routine disappeared, leaving people feeling isolated.
- “Nerdy was the one place I felt comfortable turning up on my own. Losing that space had a bigger impact on my mental health than I expected.”
- "It has definitely reduced the number of times we socialise and I think has affected our mental health as a result. Communities need places like Nerdy that bring people together."
A recurring theme was how quickly people drifted away once that accessible space was gone. More than half of those who said they previously attended Nerdy told us they no longer take part in tabletop or community gaming at all, not because they lost interest, but because they lost the kind of environment that made participation possible.
- “When Nerdy closed, I stopped going to organised gaming completely. There wasn’t anywhere else that felt accessible or welcoming.”
- "I now attend less community events, I see my friends less, I play less boardgames, it was painful and isolating to lose a place that had been so openly accepting and that had been the starting place and hub of a community that means a lot to me."
What these responses made clear is that spaces like this don’t just support hobbies, they support people. They give structure, routine, and a reason to leave the house. They make it easier to connect, especially for those who find traditional social spaces difficult or overwhelming.
That’s why permanence matters.
Temporary venues helped us hold on for a while, but without a consistent, welcoming place to return to, people slowly drifted away. A permanent space creates stability. It allows communities to grow, not just survive.
What The Spectrum Space Will Be
The Spectrum Space will be:
- A retail and event space supporting trading card games, tabletop games and creative crafts
- A space designed from the ground up for true inclusion and accessibility
- An alcohol free place to hang out, serving drinks, snacks and sweet treats.
- A space that celebrates individuality
- A space designed intentionally to reduce social and cognitive barriers, particularly for neurodivergent people, but it will be welcoming to everyone
- A venue that balances competitive play with inclusive, casual formats
A Hub for Wellbeing & Support
One of the additional pillars of our plan is to work closely with local mental health support agencies.
Our aim is to:
- Form partnerships with local mental health and wellbeing organisations
- Offer our space for those organisations to schedule client meetings and community sessions
- Create a familiar, low-pressure environment where people can access support
For many people, traditional clinical or office settings can feel intimidating. The idea is that someone may discover support services while attending Spectrum and feel more comfortable engaging with them because they are meeting in a space they already trust.
This approach strengthens both community connection and access to support.
We want Spectrum to be more than a venue, we want it to be part of Shrewsbury’s wellbeing ecosystem.
How Spectrum Will Be Sustainable
Spectrum will operate on a mixed income model:
- Free entry for casual use
- Ticketed tournaments and structured events
- Optional membership for those who want to support the space further
- Retail sales (trading card games, tabletop products)
- Workshops and creative sessions
- Grant funding aligned with our social mission
We are not planning to charge people simply to walk in. Removing that barrier is central to the project's goal of being a true third place.
As a CIC, any surplus will be reinvested back into improving the space and expanding access.
Financial decisions and long-term strategy are overseen collectively by the board of directors to ensure responsible growth and accountability.
What Your Support Makes Possible
Your contribution helps:
- Secure a permanent premises
- Unlock larger grant funding
- Reduce early financial risk
- Ensure accessibility is built in from day one
- Demonstrate clear community backing
You’re not just funding tables and chairs.
You’re helping create:
- A place where someone can walk in alone and feel safe
- A hub that supports mental wellbeing
- A stable third place for Shrewsbury
- A space designed intentionally for inclusion
If you’ve ever benefited from somewhere like that, or wished one had existed when you needed it, I’d love for you to help make this happen.
From myself and all of the people working to bring Spectrum to life, thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting.
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made