SPECTRUM SUMMIT - Emma Evans

I am really excited to announce that I will be attempting to help the team at Spectrum Community Arts Ltd complete a Ben Nevis challenge. 

I am part of a team climbing an indoor climbing wall with the hope of scaling the heights of Ben Nevis between us in just 1 hour!

This organisation is amazing! I have had the privilege of volunteering for them for 4 years! 

I get to meet the most amazing people at every session. I love seeing the joy and confidence to those with various neurodiversity needs gain each session. 

Please read the mission statement below and if you can, it would be amazing if you could donate anything at all towards this amazing attempt. Your support would mean the world to us, and all the team and participants at Spectrum

The Spectrum community of participants, volunteers, friends and family are coming together to climb the equivalent of Ben Nevis (1,345m) at Climb Quest, Milton Keynes in just one hour!  

Spectrum Community Arts Ltd is a not-for-profit organisation providing performing arts workshops for people with disabilities and additional needs. We have a timetable of 9 different weekly 'out-of-school' clubs providing a safe space for our participants to stay active, make friends and have fun!

Here at Spectrum our aim is to enable participants to develop their self-esteem and self-expression in a safe, encouraging environment. We strongly believe that the performing arts is a fun and exciting way to do this and a perfect platform to nurture and develop individual skills and abilities.

“This organisation has the most enthusiastic and caring people who have reached out to my son and taken him out of himself allowing him to gain confidence through dance and acting. It is one of a kind and cannot be rated highly enough.”

Parent of a participant

Why are we crowdfunding?

At Spectrum Community Arts, we believe that everyone deserves the chance to shine! Our performers work so hard in our workshops, building confidence, skills, and friendships. We want to give them a platform to showcase their incredible talents and celebrate their achievements. This showcase isn't just a performance—it’s about breaking down barriers, championing inclusion, and proving what our performers CAN do!

Many of our participants are excluded from school shows, asked to leave other performing arts opportunities or simply never invited in the first place. This is their chance to be on a stage, under the lights and in front of an applauding audience – shining as they should be!!!

The showcase will:

✔ Empower our performers with a sense of achievement and pride

✔ Inspire new participants to join, knowing there’s a truly accessible and welcoming space for them

✔ Attract new volunteers who want to be part of something special

✔ Encourage inclusion by showing the power of performing arts for everyone

But the impact doesn’t stop when the curtain falls. The money Spectrum Summit raises will not only make the showcase possible—it will also fund the first term of workshops after the showcase, ensuring that our performers can continue to grow, build confidence, and express themselves through the arts.

To make this event a reality, we need to raise £10,000 — and we’re reaching new heights to make it happen!

“I love that I can just be myself here”  

Chelsea, Participant aged 12

“I feel happy and positively charged after the sessions”  

 Shelley, Participant

"I love the music it makes me happy and excited. I like to see my friends. It's good for my health" 

Spectrum Participant

Community Impact

We have 95 participants who attend our weekly sessions and a community of over 400 disabled people who access our bespoke and holiday club workshops. These sessions directly benefit the participants:

“Spectrum classes have brought about a change in [him] that many other professionals we work with haven't been able to achieve. 

Noah had been out of school for more than two years, he would not talk due to anxiety, he wasn't looking forward to anything and had felt quite isolated. Spectrum has helped immensely. [He] recorded a spoken video to express how much spectrum has helped him, he is always rushing to get to the next class or help in any way he can and he has made friendships he otherwise would not have had.”

Noah's Mum

"You have helped my little boy to get out of his comfort zone, enjoy his dance and improve his coordination.”

Claire, a participant's Mum

“After dancing at Spectrum for 6 months, Lochlainn no longer needs to see a physio therapist!”

Lochlainn's Mum

Our sessions also allow a moment of well-deserved respite for the parent/carers:

"You and your team are extremely good at keeping everyone engaged - so so impressive!"

Participant Parent

"I am so very grateful that my child has the opportunity to access [Spectrum] & to know that he’s in safe hands, I also have some 'Down Time'!"

Participant's Parent

We also couldn't do what we do without our AMAZING team of volunteers who give up their time to support the participants to engage in the sessions! Many volunteers have felt that Spectrum has helped boost their own confidence, maintain their own fitness levels and some have even gone on to pursue a career in the SEND world!

"As well as being emotionally rewarding, volunteering at Spectrum has helped me to blossom as a person, improving my confidence, communication and empathy, skills that I know will be important when building a future career and for life as a whole."

Hannah, Volunteer

“Spectrum is an asset to the wider community... it provides a safe space where everyone feels valued and understood and can express themselves in whatever way they wish. I think that Spectrum is fabulous and I feel very lucky to be part of such as lovely community!”

Elisha, Volunteer

 How we’ll spend the money raised

•Hire fees of the theatre and backstage spaces for the showcase

•Staff fees for the showcase to ensure every participant has the support they need

•Costumes and props for the showcase to help bring their creativity to life

•Photographer – to capture the performers shining on stage

•First aider at the showcase

•Programme printing

•Performer certificates

•Facilitator and Workshop Assistant fees in our weekly clubs

•Admin team fees

•Media & marketing team fees

•Volunteer Co-ordinator fees 

•Purchasing of new props and sensory equipment to use in the sessions

Here's how you can get involved

There are four simple ways to help us reach our target, and make this project a reality.

1. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!

2. Spread the word. Share our project on your social media pages and tell the world to get behind us! The more people we reach, the more support we will get.

3. Offer rewards. Get involved if you are a local business by donating "rewards" we can offer to our supporters. We will give you a shout out!

4. Join Spectrum Summit. Take on the climbing challenge and get sponsored! (email [email protected] for more information)

 "[The] individuals I work with benefit greatly from the excellent teachings of Jade and her team of helpers, they attend dance classes which encourages movement, coordination, confidence, fun, exercise, inclusivity and community involvement. The people I support who attend Spectrum classes have benefited so very much and they have an absolute ball! They provide such a wonderful service for young and old, in a community that is lacking in this area of expertise - so valuable and so needed!"

Carer of two Adult Movers dancers

“This organisation has the most enthusiastic and caring people who have reached out to my son and taken him out of himself allowing him to gain confidence through dance and acting.

It is one of a kind and cannot be rated highly enough.”

Parent of a Participant

“I love that [ he ] leaves the class feeling happy and confident. The motivation he has to go each week has gotten him through some of the mental health struggles he has faced.” 

Parent of a Participant

“It's my dance club and I love dancing... I feel happy! I love the shaky egg song.” 

Oliver, Spectrum Participant (aged 7)

“Spectrum is so different to anything else and is tailored to my child's individual needs. Thank you Spectrum. You are a much needed and appreciated part of our community.”

Parent of a Participant

"Volunteering with Spectrum Community Arts has been so much fun. It’s been great watching the children grow and develop in their skills. It’s been a really valuable experience and I’ve loved every minute!"

Gemma, Volunteer

“My daughter doesn't talk much, but comes out happy and always wants to go each week...  It helps her do something different, and encourages her to be more confident. I appreciated all the little things, like photos of the venue, and photos of the staff - it meant that going to a new venue didn’t phase her at all, as she had been able to visualise where she was going beforehand.”

Parent of a Participant

“They are interactive and engaging for children with a range of disabilities.”

Parent of a Participant