Spectrum Film Club has three reasons to be cheerful as it celebrates a trio of good news.
The film club was launched in 2022 by a committee of local autistic residents with support from the Local Area Co-ordinators from the Social Work Department of East Dunbartonshire HSCP.
It celebrated its first birthday in March with the news that it had secured funding for another year from East Dunbartonshire Voluntary Action’s Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund meaning even more local people with autism and associated conditions will be able to enjoy a diverse range of popular movies in a more relaxing environment.
And the icing on the cake was the news that the film club had won the award for Best New Community Cinema 2022 at the prestigious Film Society of the Year Awards run by Cinema for All.
Cinema For All is the national charity for the support and development of volunteer-led cinema and the awards are all about celebrating the achievements made across the sector.
The award was in recognition of the impact Spectrum Film Club is having in the community and judges highlighted the warmth and commitment of the organisers.
Pat Greenhough, Marketing and Operations Coordinator at Cinema for All, said,
At Cinema For All we love to see new community cinemas bloom each year and we are so grateful to be part of it.
“The judges found this group to be very thoughtful, full of warmth and commitment to their audience, reactive and responsive to feedback. The film programme was described as ‘joyful’ and ‘refreshing’ with the organisers being described as leaders and educators.
“The group is having real impact, in such a short space of time. We are delighted to see them come out the gate as a strong and creative organisation with an incredible future ahead of them."
Caroline Sinclair, Chief Officer of East Dunbartonshire HSCP, added,
The aim was to make a night at the movies more accessible for autistic people from East Dunbartonshire and their families and it’s great to witness it become such a success.
“It’s even nicer to see the dedication shown by the organising committee recognised by others. The award is recognition of the hard work they put in to bring this to fruition and the extra mile they go in every area to ensure this wonderful community cinema thrives.
“It’s wonderful that Spectrum Film Club has secured funding for another year, and I hope people continue to support the sessions as we move forward.”
The film screenings are shown on the third Tuesday of every month. During the event, members of staff will be on hand and a “break-out room” is available for anyone who would like quiet time during the film. In addition, multiple easy-access resources including a “What to Expect” guide and video are available on the East Dunbartonshire website, Spectrum film club webpage to prepare patrons for their visit and allay any worries they might have before they attend.
