darts

What darts does

darts (Doncaster Community Arts) is a participatory arts charity and company limited by guarantee (Charity No. 1056799, Company No. 3166208) founded in 1990 and headquartered at The Point, a Grade II listed arts centre on South Parade, Doncaster. The organisation creates art with people — rather than for them — across two principal domains: Creative Learning (programmes delivered in schools, early years settings, special schools, and Family Hubs) and Creative Health (programmes supporting adult mental health, physical wellbeing, and dementia care). Named programmes include All Aboard, Tuneful Chatter (0–5s), Dance On and Dance On Strength and Balance (55+), Singing for Memory (dementia), Creative Directions, Creative Classrooms, and We Speak Music.

Underlying capability rests on a Makaton-trained artist workforce and a Makaton-friendly venue certification — The Point is Doncaster's only such venue and one of five in Yorkshire — which enables inclusive delivery for participants with speech, language and communication difficulties. darts also co-leads the South Yorkshire Music Hub / Doncaster Music Education Hub and convenes the Doncaster Family Arts Network alongside seven partner organisations.

Revenue is generated principally through charitable grants and multi-year project funding from Arts Council England, Doncaster Council, Youth Music, the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Get Doncaster Moving, and Tesco Bags of Help, supplemented by nominal session fees (e.g. £3 per Dance On session after a first free session), corporate partnerships, community fundraising (including dash for darts), donations, and gifts in wills. Most programmes are free to participants at the point of access. The Point venue also generates hire, catering, and café income following Phase 1 decarbonisation. Technology integration is limited to standard SaaS tooling (MailChimp, Eventbrite, Google Analytics, Zoom, Microsoft Forms, YouTube) with no proprietary platform.

Name

darts

Legal name

darts (Doncaster Community Arts)

Website

https://wearedarts.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

darts is a Doncaster-based participatory arts charity founded in 1990 that delivers Creative Learning and Creative Health programmes — including Makaton-friendly sessions for SEND children, Dance On for over-55s, and Singing for Memory for dementia — funded primarily by Arts Council England, Doncaster Council, and Youth Music grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Arts and Creative Health Services

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Amusement, Gambling, and Recreation Industries (713), Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (7139)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Theatre & Storytelling Festivals (MPAGAEAI)

Keywords

• Participatory arts programmes
• Creative health initiatives
• Community arts education
• Inclusive arts delivery
• Arts charity services

Headquarters

HQ city

DONCASTER, SOUTH YORKSHIRE

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Charitable grants and funding: darts receives funding from Arts Council England, Doncaster Council, Youth Music, and other grant-making organisations to support their charitable programmes.
2. Session fees and subscriptions: Some programmes charge nominal fees - Dance On charges £3 per session after first free session. Creative Directions sessions are free.
3. Donations and fundraising: The charity accepts donations through their website and runs fundraising activities including corporate partnerships, community fundraising events, and gifts in wills.
4. Corporate partnerships: Corporate organisations can partner with darts to support their charitable work through various engagement levels.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

darts is Doncaster's participatory arts charity, delivering creative programmes in schools, early years settings, Family Hubs, community venues, and at The Point arts centre. Core programmes are split into Creative Learning (educational creative activities for children and young people) and Creative Health (creative experiences for adult physical and mental wellbeing, including Dance On, Singing for Memory, and Creative Directions). The Point is Doncaster's only registered Makaton-friendly venue, and the organisation also provides artist development, training, venue hire, and digital resources through darts at Home.

Product overview

darts is Doncaster's participatory arts charity, operating as a single unified charitable organisation that delivers a broad portfolio of creative programmes rather than a software product platform. The core offering spans two main areas: Creative Learning (delivered in schools, early years settings, and community venues) and Creative Health (aimed at improving physical and mental wellbeing for adults). Key named programmes include All Aboard (music and arts clubs for children with SEND), Tuneful Chatter (early years 0–5 creative sessions), Creative Directions (adult wellbeing workshops), Dance On and Dance On Strength and Balance (dance for over-50s), Singing for Memory (for people with dementia), We Speak Music (Youth Music-funded project with special schools), and Creative Classrooms (drama in primary schools). darts also leads the South Yorkshire Music Hub / Doncaster Music Education Hub, operates its home venue The Point (a Grade II listed arts centre), co-ordinates the Doncaster Family Arts Network, and provides artist development and training including the All Aboard Music Network. The Point is also Doncaster's only registered Makaton-friendly venue, embedding Makaton signing across services. A digital extension, darts at Home, provides online resources and video content for remote participation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Creative Learning Creativity-focused educational programmes delivered in schools, early years settings, and community venues across Doncaster, supporting learning at all ages and stages of life.
• Creative Health Creative experiences designed to build and maintain good physical and mental health and wellbeing for adults in Doncaster, including Dance On, Singing for Memory, and Creative Directions programmes.
• All Aboard After-school creative music, art, and performance clubs for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), delivered in Doncaster special schools and at The Point.
• Tuneful Chatter Early years creative programme for 0-5-year-olds and their families, using music, dance, and drama to improve communication, language, and social skills. Delivered at The Point and Family Hubs across Doncaster.
• Dance On Dance programme for adults aged 50+ (and Dance On Strength and Balance for over 55s) focused on staying active, improving strength, balance, coordination, and reducing the risk of falls, led by qualified postural stability instructors.
• Creative Directions Weekly creative workshops for adults covering visual art, creative writing, music, and movement, designed to improve wellbeing, reduce social isolation, and unlock new skills for people of all abilities. Also delivered as Creative Directions in the Community in Edlington and Askern.
• We Speak Music A three-year Youth Music-funded project working with Doncaster's special schools (Heatherwood, North Ridge, Coppice, and Pennine View) to encourage music-making and develop communication confidence in children with disabilities through music and Makaton signing.
• Creative Classrooms A drama programme for primary schools (Years 1-4) designed to develop emotional literacy, communication, and empathy skills, with embedded CPD for teachers and teaching assistants. Funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
• Singing for Memory A regular group for people with dementia and their family carers, led by professional musicians, providing a safe space to sing familiar songs, write new ones, socialise, and create shared memories.
• Doncaster Music Education Hub (South Yorkshire Music Hub) Led by darts and Doncaster Music Service as part of the South Yorkshire Music Hub, providing music opportunities for children, young people, and educators across Doncaster, including ensemble sessions, Music for Youth performances, and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra collaborations.
• The Point Venue Hire darts' home venue at 16 South Parade, Doncaster, a Grade II listed arts centre offering spaces for hire, catering, and café facilities. Phase 1 of decarbonisation has been completed.
• darts at Home A collection of online creative activities, downloadable resource packs, music challenge videos, and virtual workshop content created during and after the COVID-19 pandemic to allow participants and families to engage with arts activities from home.
• Doncaster Family Arts Network A network led by darts alongside seven partner organisations, working to support families in accessing high-quality arts opportunities, with a current focus on underserved families including those on low incomes, requiring SEND support, or with English as an additional language.
• Artist Development and Training Professional development, training, and networking opportunities for artists working in participatory arts, including the All Aboard Music Network (free Zoom training for musicians and educators working with disabled young people), traineeships, and artist meet-the-team events.
• Makaton-Friendly Venue (The Point) The Point is Doncaster's only registered Makaton-friendly venue (one of only five in Yorkshire), with staff trained in Makaton signing used across services to support communication for children and adults with communication or learning difficulties.
• Environment Songs A project in which professional musicians worked with Doncaster's special schools to create original environmental songs across multiple tracks, featuring lyrics, music compositions, and Makaton signing, culminating in professional recording sessions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of previously 'inactive' older adults have improved physical health and social connection through Dance On
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.

• Get Doncaster MovingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupporting the Dance On Strength and Balance programme expansion. Partnership focuses on keeping adults aged 55+ active and reducing falls.
• One Dance UKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLed the pioneering Dance On programme alongside darts, University of Leeds, and Yorkshire Dance over the past seven years.
• University of LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in Dance On programme evaluation and development alongside darts, One Dance UK, and Yorkshire Dance.
• Yorkshire DancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Dance On programme leadership and delivery alongside darts, One Dance UK, and University of Leeds.
• Special Schools (Pennine View, Heatherwood, North Ridge, Coppice)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour Doncaster special schools working in partnership on We Speak Music project to develop music and communication skills for pupils with disabilities.
• South Yorkshire Music Hub / Doncaster Music ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerdarts and Doncaster Music Service lead Doncaster Music - part of the South Yorkshire Music Hub providing music opportunities for children, young people and educators.
• Julie's BicycleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental sustainability organisation. darts reports annually to Julie's Bicycle to understand and track total carbon footprint as an organisation.
• Cast (Doncaster)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerDoncaster's cultural venue and arts organisation. Part of Doncaster Family Arts Network, delivering complementary early years creative activities.
• Children's UniversitysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCharity working in partnership with schools to develop love of learning in children through extra-curricular activities. Partner in Family Arts Network.
• National Literacy TrustsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Family Arts Network providing literacy skills support, training and resources for families in Doncaster.
• Right Up Our StreetsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity-led Creative People and Places arts programme funded by Arts Council England. Partner in Family Arts Network bringing art activities to Doncaster communities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Equal Arts: Charity working with older people and people living with dementia through creative programmes across the North East of England. Closely comparable to darts' Dance On (older adults) and Singing for Memory (dementia) programmes in its creative-health-for-older-adults focus.
• Cast (Doncaster): Doncaster's main cultural venue and partner in the Doncaster Family Arts Network. Operates a comparable community-facing arts centre model in the same city as darts, delivering performing arts, exhibitions and family programmes that overlap directly with darts' portfolio.
• Create (London): UK charity delivering participatory arts programmes for disadvantaged communities, focused on inclusive creative engagement with vulnerable groups - a near-direct analogue to darts' Creative Health and inclusive arts delivery, though operating primarily in London and the South East.
• ARC Stockton (Stockton Arts Centre): Regional arts centre in the North East operating a venue plus community participation and creative health programmes for older adults and vulnerable groups - structurally similar to darts' combination of a venue (The Point) and Creative Health programmes such as Dance On.
• Re-Live: UK charity using theatre, film and storytelling to support people affected by mental health issues, dementia and trauma. Closely comparable to darts' Singing for Memory and Creative Directions wellbeing programmes, with overlapping creative-health delivery model.
• Turtle Key Arts: Charitable arts organisation producing inclusive, accessible music and arts programmes for young people and underserved communities in the UK. Comparable to darts' early-years and SEND delivery via Tuneful Chatter and All Aboard, including Music and Makaton capability.
• Mind the Gap (Bradford): One of the UK's leading learning-disability performing arts companies, delivering inclusive theatre, training and arts programmes. Highly comparable to darts' All Aboard and We Speak Music SEND programmes and Arts Award delivery in Yorkshire special schools.

Broad incumbents

• Battersea Arts Centre: Long-established London arts centre running creative participation, artist development and community programmes at significantly larger scale than darts. Overlaps as a venue plus participatory-arts operator but with a much broader portfolio and London focus.
• Junction (Cambridge Junction): Regional arts and cultural centre delivering participatory arts, music education and outreach programmes alongside venue hire. Comparable as a regional arts centre model with creative learning and community programming, though operating at a larger scale than darts.

Emerging players

• Open Theatre: Midlands-based inclusive theatre company creating performance work with learning-disabled artists. Comparable to darts' inclusive arts and SEND special-schools delivery via All Aboard and We Speak Music, with overlapping specialist methodology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/we_aredarts
• Facebookfacebook.com/wearedarts
• Instagraminstagram.com/wearedarts
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/darts-doncaster-creative-health-charity

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 darts