Introducing Electric Umbrella
At Electric Umbrella we create amazing live, interactive music experiences with learning disabled people. Find out why...
What we're all about
At Electric Umbrella we create amazing, live interactive music experiences with learning disabled people.
And when our superstars take to the stage, they help change the way the world looks at them - and others.
When you’re part of Electric Umbrella, the stage is always set, the lights are bright, and the show is always on.
Everyone in our community has the opportunity to work with professional musicians, to co-produce extraordinary performances.
Our community of more than 2,000 people take part in a range of co-created sessions with our brilliant professional musicians, which are free to attend. These include EUTV, Open Mic nights, our Singalongs, and the Breakfast Club.
Many also choose to become paid Electric Umbrella members, enjoying our programme of small, personalised workshops.
And when we come together, the power of performance comes to life spectacularly through our Big Yellow Choir,
music albums, live shows, festivals and tours in front of tens of thousands of people each year!
We also deliver specialist live music experiences for hundreds of SEN schools across the UK, and offer mainstream schools unique tour visits with our member ambassadors, all part of our mission to make the world a little more, ‘Electric Umbrella’.
Music can have a magical, inspiring impact, and yes, it really does change the lives of those in our community. We are helping to combat social isolation, but it’s about far more than that.
At Electric Umbrella it is about achieving extraordinary things together - the performance of your life.
How it started
Electric Umbrella became a registered charity in 2016, three years after we started on our journey.
Our charity was 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’.
Tom and Mel delivered workshops across Hertfordshire, raising small amounts of money through crowdfunding initiatives and busking opportunities.
Within two years we had delivered hundreds of hours of music workshops, performed to thousands of people at gigs, and held our first summer festival, Umbrellafest.
We’re now supported by a group of amazing professional musicians, a small, dedicated staff team, and lots of amazing volunteers.
What do we believe?
We believe learning disabled people are all too often left behind, because social care models are hardwired to be about surviving, not thriving.
At Electric Umbrella, we want to co-create amazing, meaningful experiences that help those we support learn new skills and build confidence.
In doing so, we believe that we can help empower them to be who they are - and consequently challenge perceptions.
Given the right support, and fantastic opportunities, we believe anyone can be a superstar.
Why 'learning disabled'?
At Electric Umbrella we follow the social model of disability.
We believe that society has not done enough to make sure that disabled people have the same opportunities as everyone else.
This can be by putting physical barriers in the way, such as no lift access for wheelchair users, or through poor attitude, understanding and sometimes even discrimination.
In line with this model, the use of ‘learning disabled people’ is preferred, to reflect the disabling nature of society, rather than disability being an individual characteristic.
We know that the language you use to describe yourself is very personal. So, whichever words you choose, we support you fully.
Want to support us?
There are five ways to support us:
Fundraise - we create spectacular experiences around some of the UK’s biggest events. Why not take part and fundraise for Electric Umbrella?
Volunteer - our volunteers deliver the energy that powers Electric Umbrella. We have a range of outstanding opportunities to get involved - whether you’re musical or not!
Shop - our online store has lots of brilliant yellow merchandise to purchase.
Donate - donations help keep the music playing for our community. Generous contributions enable us to create more amazing, live music experiences.
Partner - we work with businesses across the UK, building unique collaborative partnerships that raise vital funds - and help challenge people to think differently
Registered Charity. 1165164
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