At the start of the 2025/26 academic year, the Piper Arts Centre has already seen some inspiring moments of progress from our young people - and one recent session with Fleming House captured just how far they’ve come.

Earlier in the year, sessions for Fleming’s had to be run almost as individual sessions for each young person as the group were not able to be together for group work. Sessions will always be adapted to meet each individual’s needs – but there is huge value in group work in performing arts at Prior’s Court.

But recently, something remarkable happened. During an “If I Ran a Circus” themed session, the young people came together - quite literally - to take part in a group activity. They lined up behind one another and carefully walked along a ‘tightrope’, showing teamwork, focus, and trust.

Tanya, Performing Arts Co-Lead, described the moment perfectly:

I had a moment where you just think, ‘we’ve made so much progress here’. And we got there so quickly.

This small but powerful moment highlights the positive impact that creative, sensory-rich experiences can have. Through the arts, our young people are developing confidence, communication, and the ability to share space and activities with others - all vital skills that help them thrive both at school, in the home and beyond.

Why the Piper Arts Centre was built

The Piper Arts Centre was built to offer autistic young people with complex needs a creative, inclusive space to express themselves through music, dance, and drama. It supports communication, wellbeing, and confidence through the power of the arts.

The Piper Arts Centre was only made possible thanks to the generosity of our donors, whose incredible support has helped bring creativity and opportunity to life for the young people at Prior’s Court.

Find out more about Piper Arts Centre