The Arts Aren’t a Luxury: Why Central Bedfordshire Must Protect Theatres, Libraries, and Neurodiverse Support

Written By Keith Badham

The arts in the UK are often treated like a “nice extra” — something we can trim when budgets get tight.

But if you’re a parent trying to support a neurodivergent child, a teenager looking for confidence, or a community trying to stay connected, you already know the truth:

The arts are not a luxury. They’re infrastructure.

With Central Bedfordshire Council set to review spending on The Grove Theatre (Dunstable) and Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, this is a moment to be clear about what’s at stake — and why protecting access to arts provision matters, especially when neurodiversity support is already stretched.

What’s happening: the Grove Theatre and Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre reviews

Central Bedfordshire Council is considering efficiency savings and reviewing operations and spending linked to two local venues:

  • The Grove Theatre, Dunstable

  • Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre

Reviews like this can sound neutral — “just a review”. But in practice, they often lead to reduced programming, reduced access, or decisions that make venues harder to use for schools, youth groups, and community organisations.

And once a venue’s offer shrinks, it’s incredibly hard to rebuild.

Why the arts matter more when neurodiversity support is lacking

Neurodivergent children and young people (including autistic, ADHD, dyspraxic, dyslexic, and other profiles) are too often asked to fit into systems that weren’t designed for them.

When support is limited, arts spaces can become one of the few places where young people can:

  • Communicate without pressure to “get it right”

  • Practise social interaction in a structured, supportive way

  • Build confidence through small wins

  • Explore emotion safely (without being judged)

  • Find belonging with peers

That’s not “extra-curricular”. That’s wellbeing.

The arts build skills that traditional settings often miss

In drama, music, art, and movement, young people can develop:

  • Self-regulation (breathing, pacing, managing energy)

  • Communication (verbal and non-verbal)

  • Collaboration (turn-taking, listening, shared goals)

  • Resilience (trying again, learning lines, practising)

  • Confidence (being seen, being heard, being valued)

For neurodivergent young people, those skills can be life-changing — and they often transfer into school, friendships, and family life.

The arts are also a serious economic engine (yes, really)

Arts and culture aren’t just good for individuals — they’re good for the country.

According to the UK Government’s DCMS economic estimates, the creative industries contributed £124.0bn in GVA to the UK economy in 2023 (provisional).

That’s not pocket change. That’s a major part of the UK’s economic strength.

And local venues are part of that pipeline:

  • They support jobs (technical, front-of-house, marketing, education)

  • They attract visitors who spend in local shops and hospitality

  • They give young people early access to skills that feed the wider creative economy

When we cut local arts access, we don’t save money long-term — we shift costs elsewhere (health, education, social care) and weaken future opportunity.

What communities lose when venues are reduced

When a theatre or performance space is scaled back, the loss isn’t just fewer shows.

It can mean:

  • Fewer school trips and enrichment opportunities

  • Fewer youth productions and affordable stage time

  • Less accessible programming for families

  • Less space for community groups to gather and create

  • Less visibility for local talent

And for young people? It can mean one fewer place where they feel safe, capable, and included.

What we should be asking Central Bedfordshire Council to protect

If reviews are genuinely about serving the community, then the key questions should be:

1) Access

  • Are these venues affordable and available for schools and youth groups?

  • Are there pathways for children and teens to perform, not just watch?

2) Inclusion

  • Are neurodivergent young people actively considered in programming and access?

  • Are staff trained and supported to make spaces welcoming?

3) Community value (not just cost)

  • What is the social value of these venues?

  • What costs increase elsewhere if arts access decreases?

4) Long-term thinking

  • How does this decision affect young people over the next 5–10 years?

  • What happens to local opportunity if the cultural ladder loses its first rungs?

What you can do right now

If you care about the Grove Theatre, Leighton Buzzard Library Theatre, and arts access across Central Bedfordshire, here are practical steps:

  1. Watch for consultation opportunities from Central Bedfordshire Council and respond.

  2. Write to your local councillors with a clear message: arts access is essential.

  3. Share your story — especially if the arts have helped your child’s confidence, anxiety, or sense of belonging.

  4. Support local arts organisations by attending shows, sharing posts, and recommending programmes to other families.

Personal stories matter. Decision-makers need to hear what these spaces do in real lives.

The bottom line: the arts keep communities healthier

The arts help children grow, help families cope, and help communities stay connected.

They also contribute billions to the UK economy.

So when we talk about theatres and library performance spaces, we’re not talking about “entertainment”. We’re talking about:

  • Inclusion

  • Opportunity

  • Mental health

  • Community

  • Economic strength

That’s why these venues — and the wider arts ecosystem around them — deserve protection.

Want arts support that’s inclusive and confidence-building?

At Up-Stage Theatre Arts, we run inclusive youth drama sessions in Bedfordshire, with a strong focus on confidence, communication, and creating a safe space for young people to grow — including those who are neurodivergent or anxious.

If you’d like to chat about what would work best for your child, get in touch and we’ll help you find the right fit.

Call: 07595 053251Email: keith@up-stage.co.ukWebsite: https://www.up-stagearts.com

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Sources

Keith Badham
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