The annual Let Me Shine music festival made its return to Prior’s Court on May Day Bank Holiday Monday with a stunning day of music and fun enjoyed by our young people and their families, as well as staff members and their families.

The festival was opened by a procession from Reading Scottish Pipe Band, followed by performances from Daydream Collective, Luminaria, Limpopo Groove, Ryan O'Donoghue, and DJ Manny. There was also a special appearance by Dave Benson-Phillips.

Prior’s Court Band - featuring young people Ben, Kayleigh, Ricardo, James, Brandon, and Jamie on the drums, and musician staff members Tim Gilks and Bonfils Nikiza– performed a beautiful rendition of Let Me Shine, our ‘anthem for autism’, accompanied by guest singer Daisy-Mae Housego.

A bouncy castle and giant inflatable slide were also on offer, with performers from Fandangoes, who support with the organisation of this event, roaming the festival site. Elsewhere around the festival, there were also spaces for a chillout zone, face painting, a tombola, and, for the first year, a specific space for the siblings of our young people to go and talk to other siblings about their experiences.

Young adult Rowan also returned to the stage this year to sing his solo rendition of Getting to Know You accompanied by housemate Jamie on the drums. Rowan finds unusual situations anxiety-inducing so his performance on stage in front of a crowd is an amazing achievement for him.

The Let Me Shine festival allows our young people to access the experience of a music festival experience somewhere safe and familiar, enabling them to access something they might otherwise be unable to, as well as brining together the wider Prior’s Court community.