Be Part of the Prism of Colour! 

 

The countdown is on! On Saturday 24 October 2026, Embrace will welcome guests to the Bedford Mercure Hotel for our spectacular Prism of Colour Ball – an evening of fun, celebration and the chance to showcase all the ways that Embrace supports and works within our community. 

 

Inspired by the way a prism transforms light into a beautiful spectrum of colour, this year’s ball celebrates the individuality of every young person supported by Embrace. Each person brings their own unique qualities, strengths and perspective, and together, we create something that shines even brighter. 

 

With just weeks to go, preparations are well underway. Guests will be welcomed from 6.30pm with a sparkling champagne reception before enjoying a three-course dinner with wine on the table. There will be live music from The Sonics, an exciting live auction, and professional photography to capture the special moments throughout the evening. 

 

We’re expecting a whole range of guests – some coming with friends and partners, others coming along as colleagues and collaborators. Whoever you’re joining us with, the Prism of Colour Ball promises to be a memorable night out, and a wonderful opportunity to support children and young people with disabilities, along with their families. 

Friends of Embrace are well known for their superlative fundraising endeavours – our chair of trustees, Paul Lockyer, is the latest to try something crazy in an effort to raise funds and support for our amazing charity. 

 

Running 100miles Around Bedfordshire is the challenge. Starting on Thursday 3rd September he will attempt to run more than a marathon a day for three days, finishing with a half marathon at the Bedford Running Festival on 6th September. He sets off from his home in Podington, and takes in the delights of Biggleswade, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and Woburn before completing 87miles at Brewpoint in Bedford on Saturday. Then the relatively short 13 mile half marathon on Sunday to finish with the cheering crowds. 

On Wednesday 8th July, Embrace hosted its very first networking event, and what a brilliant start it was. Held at the beautiful Bedford Swan Hotel & Thermal Spa, the event brought together a fantastic mix of local businesses, all keen to connect and collaborate, and learn more about the work Embrace does in the community. 

 

We were incredibly grateful to the Bedford Swan for generously allowing us to use The State Room free of charge. It proved to be the perfect setting for the occasion. With stunning views overlooking the embankment, and some very welcome air conditioning on one of the hottest days of the year, guests were able to network in comfort while enjoying the lovely surroundings. 

 

The event attracted a diverse and interesting group of attendees, which made for some really engaging conversations throughout the morning. Among those who joined us were representatives from a women’s health and wellness CIC, a psychic reader, a cake maker, a cyber security specialist, and a marketing agency, to name just a few. It was wonderful to see such a varied mix of industries coming together under one roof. 

On Saturday 24th October 2026, Embrace invites you to step into a vibrant celebration of community, possibility and the beauty of difference at our much-anticipated Prism of Colour Ball. 

 

Inspired by the way a prism transforms light into a spectrum of colour, this year’s theme reflects how every young person we support shines in their own unique way. Just as white light reveals a rainbow of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet, our Embrace community is all about the beauty of different perspectives and living life your way. 

 

At this year’s event we’ll also be celebrating friendship and community: the bonds that underpin our mission to help all our young people thrive. These connections are central to everything we do at Embrace, and the evening will reflect that spirit of togetherness and shared joy and success. 

Mental Health Awareness Week, running from 11-17 May, is a reminder that looking after our mental health is vital. We know that for our families, gentle, practical support that is rooted in real understanding can make all the difference, especially when life already brings so many extra demands. 

 

Our mission at Embrace is to support families living with disabilities – the whole family, children or adults, parents and carers. A listening ear and a place to pause, breathe and share can be so valuable, because caring for a child or young person with additional needs can be full of appointments, uncertainty and pressure, and that constant load can leave little room for a parent’s own wellbeing. 

This year marks something incredibly special for Embrace – 20 wonderful years of partnership with England Rugby. For two decades now, the England Rugby team have been making it possible for our families to share in the thrill of live sport events, with tickets to some unforgettable experiences at Twickenham Stadium! 

 

Every year, they donate a selection of tickets that allow the children, young people and families we support to attend their live international matches. These experiences are wonderful days out, and they mean so much more than that as well – they are a chance to be part of something on a big scale, to share cheers and laughter, to soak up the atmosphere and roar of the crowd, to create lasting memories – another magical way to embrace life their way. 

 

At Embrace, every act of kindness helps children, young people and families with additional needs in our area feel supported, included and valued. We are passionate about keeping our services accessible and affordable, but the reality is that what families pay covers only a small part of the true cost. 

 

That’s why fundraising and community support are so important - we couldn’t do what we do without you. 

 

To give you a clearer picture, here are just a few of the typical costs behind our sessions: 

 

• Skool’s Out costs £257.26 per young person, per session to deliver - our families currently pay £26. 

• Weekly yoga sessions cost £25.52 per person - we charge just £5. 

• ACE sessions cost £191.16 per young person - families pay on average £14. 

• Wellbeing Walks cost £95 per week to run. We charge just £2 for our families to access. 

 

We deliberately subsidise our services so that families can access the support they need without added financial pressure, and the gap between what we charge and what it actually costs is met through fundraising, donations and partnerships. There are so many ways you can help us bring the funds in, and they’re not all about giving directly yourself! How many of these did you know about? 

At Embrace we pride ourselves on the lasting change and impact we can have on the lives of the families we’re here to help, but none of it is possible without our supporters. We celebrate everyone who contributes to our work with our Circles of Support, which celebrate the many ways individuals, groups, and organisations stand alongside Embrace. 

 

Each circle reflects a different type of generosity, but all are united by one simple truth: every kind act of support plays a part in building brighter futures. So here’s a little more about what each Circle of Support means, and what we do to recognise your contribution in each one. 

Behind every charity is a group of people quietly helping to steer the ship, ask the big questions and make sure the organisation is always true to its purpose. At Embrace, that group is our Board of Trustees. 

 

In this month’s post, we’d like to introduce you to what the board does, who they are, and why they care so deeply about the families and individuals Embrace supports.