What Accessible Arts & Media does

Accessible Arts & Media (AAM) is a registered charity (Charity No: 1072902) founded in 1985 in York, United Kingdom, delivering inclusive creative arts programmes for disabled young people and adults, older people living with dementia and memory loss, and people with mental ill-health. The organization operates four core programmes: Hands & Voices, a singing and signing choir established in 1997 as one of the UK's first; IMPs (Inclusive Music Projects), launched in 2012 for children and young people with learning disabilities; Movers & Shakers, a sensory-based activity group for adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities; and iMUSE, a 1-to-1 therapeutic multisensory experience using proprietary interactive technology combining motion sensors, vibrating mattress, microphone integration, and switch technology to personalize sessions. AAM also delivers outreach workshops, Signalong training, and holiday clubs, and produces downloadable resources such as its Signalong signing training videos.

The business model is a hybrid charity model: a £200,000 annual fundraising target underpins grant and donation income from charitable trusts, foundations, local government, and individual donors (including Youth Music, City of York Council, Calmcott Trust, and 15+ other named funders), supplemented by participant session fees of £8–£12 per session with subsidies and sibling discounts to ensure accessibility. Last year the organization engaged 560 people in 558 creative learning and wellbeing sessions, created 806 paid hours for freelance artists, and was supported by 43 volunteers across a core staff of three. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, partnerships with schools, health services, and community organizations, and direct delivery at community venues in York with limited hybrid online options.

Strategically, AAM has steadily diversified its programme portfolio over four decades, deepened integration with healthcare referral pathways (Dementia Forward Brain Café pilot) and national SEND music networks (NYMAZ), and productized iMUSE into three vertical sub-offerings (Complex Needs, Wellbeing, Young People). The organization's competitive position rests on its 40-year community ecosystem in York, Signalong-trained specialized staff, and proprietary iMUSE platform rather than on scalable technology or geographic reach.

Name

Accessible Arts & Media

Legal name

Accessible Arts & Media

Website

https://aamedia.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Accessible Arts & Media is a York-based UK charity founded in 1985 delivering inclusive creative arts programmes — singing and signing choirs, music projects, and proprietary multisensory therapy — for disabled children and adults, people with dementia, and those with mental ill-health.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Inclusive Arts & Wellbeing Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71)

SIC

Miscellaneous Publishing (2741), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description) (EDALAGAC)

Keywords

• Inclusive arts programs
• Singing signing choirs
• Multisensory therapy sessions
• Accessible music making
• Community wellbeing services

Headquarters

HQ city

York

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises over £200,000 annually through donations, fundraising events, community collections, and challenge events. As a small charity, donations are critical to operations.
2. Trust and Foundation Grants: Funding from charitable trusts and foundations including The Calmcott Trust, City of York Council, David Solomons Charitable Trust, EDNunzio Charitable Trust, Youth Music, and others.
3. Session Fees: Program participants pay session fees ranging from £8-12 per session. Subsidized places and sibling discounts available to ensure accessibility.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Accessible Arts & Media is a York-based charity that delivers inclusive creative arts and wellbeing programs for disabled young people and adults, older people living with dementia, and people with mental ill-health. Its offerings centre on singing and signing choirs (Hands & Voices), inclusive music-making for children and young people (IMPs), sensory music and movement groups for adults with profound learning disabilities (Movers & Shakers), and 1-to-1 interactive multisensory therapeutic sessions (iMUSE), all underpinned by the Signalong total communication approach.

Product overview

Accessible Arts & Media operates as a portfolio of inclusive creative arts programs, with four core projects: Hands & Voices (singing and signing choir), IMPs (Inclusive Music Projects for children/young people), iMUSE (therapeutic multi-sensory music sessions), and Movers and Shakers (sensory activities for adults with profound disabilities). The organisation also delivers Outreach Workshops, produces Singing & Signing Training Videos, and offers downloadable resources such as Blow The Wind Southerly. Holiday clubs extend services during school breaks. The programs use Signalong signing methodology and prioritise accessibility for disabled, elderly, and mentally ill individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hands & Voices: A singing and signing choir established in 1997 for people with learning and communication difficulties
• IMPs (Inclusive Music Projects)
• Movers & Shakers
• iMUSE

Products and services

• Hands & Voices A singing and signing choir established in 1997 as one of the UK's first such choirs, helping people with learning and communication difficulties participate in music and express themselves creatively through weekly rehearsals, performances, and outreach workshops.
• IMPs (Inclusive Music Projects) An inclusive music-making programme for children and young people aged 5+ with learning disabilities, offering weekly sessions focused on accessible music creation.
• iMUSE A 1-to-1 therapeutic interactive multisensory experience that uses motion sensors, a vibrating mattress, a microphone that transforms sounds into visuals, and switch technology to create personalised relaxation and creative sessions for individuals with complex needs, dementia, or mental ill-health.
• Movers and Shakers A sensory-based creative activity group for adults with profound and multiple learning disabilities, including musical and theatrical games, dancing, singing, and playing instruments.
• IMPs Holiday Clubs Inclusive holiday club sessions for children and young people with learning disabilities, featuring themed musical activities during school breaks.
• Outreach Workshops Music and communication workshops delivered in schools, youth groups, businesses, conferences and community settings, co-led by trainees.

Quantifiable outcome

• 560 people engaged in creative learning and wellbeing activities annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NYMAZcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for NYMAZ SEND Music Network. AAM created training films for the network supported by National Foundation for Youth Music.
• York St John UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership since 1992. Students complete placements, university ensemble performs at events, collaborative projects.
• York Theatre RoyalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre partnership for collaborative projects including 'Around the World in 80 Days-ish!' holiday club.
• Thunk-ItminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre company collaborator for holiday club activities including seaside adventure session.
• Mesh DanceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDance organization collaborating on holiday clubs and immersive gardens activities.
• Copmanthorpe Community ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity choir that performs with AAM projects at joint events.
• York Jazz Initiative Jazz ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJazz choir that collaborated with Hands & Voices and IMPs for 'All that Jazz' performance.
• RadixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFestival organization that invited Hands & Voices to perform at Big Tent of Ideas festival launch.
• Dementia ForwardminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInvited AAM to be part of Brain Café pilot - iMUSE sessions delivered at dementia support sessions.
• SignalongcoreTechnology or IntegrationSigning partner for total communication approach. AAM is a trained Signalong provider offering workshops.
• Pilot TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTheatre collaboration on 'A Guide to Now' digital installation project where IMPs contributed films.
• York Inspirational Kids (YIKs) Saturday ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIMPs Trainees delivered interactive session to YIKs Saturday Club members.
• Communitas ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChoir for people recovering from mental ill-health. Long partnership with collaborative performances.
• Orange Box ChoirminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSinging for wellbeing group from West Yorkshire that performed at Sing Out! celebration.
• Sparkle SistazminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll-girl gutsy pop band from Under the Stars charity for adults with learning disabilities and autism in Sheffield.
• Castaway Sloop GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYouth music group from Castaway Goole that composes original music and performs at regional events.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mencap: UK's largest learning-disability charity, providing support, services, and advocacy. Comparable target audience and accessibility mission to AAM, though operates at vastly greater scale and scope; relevant incumbent framing.
• Live Music Now: UK-wide charity delivering interactive music programmes in care homes, hospitals, and communities for older people and those with disabilities. Comparable participatory-music-with-vulnerable-populations model to AAM, but at significantly greater national scale.

Direct peers

• Open Theatre: UK inclusive theatre company producing work with learning-disabled and non-verbal artists using gesture, movement, and physical storytelling. Comparable creative-arts-for-disability methodology and participant-led ethos to AAM.
• Mind the Gap: Bradford-based learning disability performing arts company producing theatre, dance, and music with and for artists with learning disabilities. Most directly comparable to AAM's IMPs programme in terms of inclusive creative-arts delivery model and target audience.
• Heart n Soul: London-based inclusive arts charity working with learning-disabled and autistic artists on music, visual art, and performance projects. Closely comparable to AAM's combination of participatory music programmes, multisensory work, and public performance output.
• Turtle Key Arts: UK inclusive arts charity producing theatre and music projects with learning-disabled artists and young people. Comparable mission, programme mix, and small-charity operating context.
• Blue Apple Theatre: Hampshire-based inclusive theatre company creating performance work with learning-disabled adults. Comparable to AAM in participant-led creative model, focus on confidence/communication outcomes, and small-charity operating structure.
• DADA Fest: Liverpool-based disability arts organisation running an annual festival and year-round inclusive arts programmes. Comparable to AAM as a UK disabled-arts organisation combining music, performance, and accessibility-led programming.

Emerging players

• Creative Dementia Arts Network (Arts 4 Dementia): UK charity delivering arts programmes specifically for people living with dementia and their carers. Directly comparable to AAM's iMUSE dementia offering, though narrower in focus (dementia only) and more nationally oriented.

Others

• OM Interactive: UK supplier of interactive sensory projection, motion-activated, and multisensory equipment used in dementia care, special education, and therapy settings. Comparable iMUSE-adjacent technology stack (motion sensors, projection, switch interfaces), positioning it as a potential competitor or partnership/cross-licensing counterpart.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/AArtsMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/aamedia.org.uk
• Instagraminstagram.com/accessibleartsyork
• Xx.com/aamedia_org_uk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accessible-arts-and-media

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accessible Arts & Media