Electric Umbrella - UK (CDD)
Founded by musician Tom Billington and art therapist Mel Boda, who recognised there were few opportunities for learning disabled people to take to ‘the stage’, Electric Umbrella forges amazing live music experiences with learning disabled people as a way to co-create amazing, meaningful experiences that help those they support learn new skills and build confidence.
Specifically, Electric Umbrella offer amazing, free, live digital music experiences, opportunities to take part in immersive, small group music sessions, sing with lots of other people together, online or in real life, perform in live, local shows, gigs, or festivals, learn new skills, and challenge perceptions about learning disabled people.
Post Covid, they are currently reaching 2000 learning disabled people online each week across their live and interactive shows and sessions, and their online provision is very much here to stay as it reaches people from all across the UK.
Martyn himself was an online performer for Electric Umbrella over lockdown, and came away from the experience so moved that he knew he wanted to help support their incredible work, if even in a small way.