Always on
This project successfully funded on 5th June 2026, you can still support them with a donation.
Step Up For Spectrum
Leighton Buzzard, United Kingdom
£2,150
raised so far
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Aim
Keep accessible performing arts thriving! Help fund creative opportunities for people with disabilities & additional needs in our community.
This May the 3rd & 4th, we’re calling on 40 incredible humans to step up and choose their challenge at the MK Marathon Weekend. Whether you take on the Half Marathon, Rocket 5K or suit up for the Superhero Fun Run, this is your chance to run with purpose, community and a whole lot of heart.
Together, we’re aiming to raise £5,000 to help us to keep Spectrum thriving & we’d absolutely love to count on your support.
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 fundraising?
Spectrum Community Arts exists to ensure that creativity is accessible to everyone. Through our workshops, we provide inclusive spaces where people of all ages and abilities can connect, express themselves and build confidence through the arts.
As a non-profit organisation, much of what we do is only possible thanks to the generosity of our supporters. Fundraising helps us continue delivering meaningful opportunities for people who may otherwise face barriers to participation, allowing us to keep our sessions affordable, expand our reach and create welcoming environments where creativity and community can thrive.
Every contribution helps us keep performing arts open, inclusive and accessible to all.
“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
“Cerys’ health and wellbeing have improved since attending Spectrum, by giving her exercise and helps her sensory regulation. She feels she belongs and is fully included with the other participants and learns from them, including social cues, which helps her mental well-being. She loves attending two sessions a week and other activities when available. ”
Cerys' Mum
Our sessions also allow a moment of well-deserved respite for the parent/carers as well as access to a community:
"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
"Spectrum has created a supportive, understanding community for parents — a space to connect, share experiences, and feel less alone. That sense of belonging, for both our child and us as parents, has made a profound difference to our wellbeing"
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
"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
How we’ll spend the money raised
- Venue hire fees our weekly clubs
- Facilitator and Workshop Assistant fees in our weekly clubs
- Admin team fees
- Volunteer onboarding, training and uniform
- Purchasing of new props and sensory equipment to use in our 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. Join Step Up For Spectrum. Take on one of 3 challenges and get sponsored! (email [email protected] for more information)
2. Make a pledge. Don’t delay if you’re going to support us because momentum is key to our success!
3. 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.
4. 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!
"[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
“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
“Spectrum has been incredibly important for our whole family. Our 8-year-old daughter Josie, who has autism and ADHD, has previously struggled to access clubs and activities, often feeling overwhelmed or excluded. Spectrum is one of the very few places where she feels completely safe, included and able to be herself. Over time we’ve seen her confidence grow, her anxiety reduce, and her happiness increase as she’s built friendships and found her voice through creativity. ”
Parent of a Participant
Funding method
Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made