During our recent Let Me Shine music festival/ 25th anniversary event,  families of the autistic young people we support were given the chance to tour our brand-new performing arts centre.

The centre, which has been carefully designed with the needs of autistic young people with complex needs at its heart, opened its doors for exclusive guided tours throughout the event.

It was a moment of pride and excitement as families were welcomed in to see how this new space will enhance learning, creativity, and self-expression for their loved ones. The tours were led by key staff members involved in the project including our outgoing Director of Learning Sue Piper, Chief Executive Ryan Campbell, and Director of Estates & Facilities Rob Lodge.

From adaptable lighting to acoustics, the Performing Arts Centre has been built to provide a safe, supportive environment where autistic young people can explore music, drama, dance, and more in a way that works for them.

The family tours gave parents and carers a chance to experience the space first-hand, learn more about how it will be used in our learning programmes, and hear directly from staff about the impact we hope it will have.

Centre update: nearing completion

The fit-out phase of the Performing Arts Centre is now in its final stages. Acoustic panels, signage, and an outdoor learning area screen are among the last elements to be installed, bringing the space ever closer to full functionality.

Read more about progress on the centre

Thank you for supporting our appeal

We are delighted to share that the fundraising appeal for the Performing Arts Centre is now complete. Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped make this transformative space a reality.

See what other appeals we have live