How Better Budgeting Helped Bubble Club Dance into Its 20th Year

When Bubble Club CIC connected with Link UP London, they were looking for something that might sound simple on the surface – a better way to manage their finances. But for a small, community-rooted organisation preparing to celebrate a landmark anniversary, getting the numbers right meant so much more than spreadsheets. It meant stability, confidence, and the freedom to keep doing what they do best: creating space for learning disabled people to make music, make art, and make magic.

About the Organisation

Bubble Club CIC is an inclusive nightlife events programme based in East London, built around co-production and creativity. Now entering its 20th year, the organisation runs workshops that support learning disabled adults to organise and curate their own events – from the art on the walls to the music on the stage.

Six times a year, Bubble Club takes over a high-profile venue on Brick Lane, hosting events attended by 250 to 350 people. Around 85% of performers on stage are disabled, and every single DJ is learning disabled or autistic. The audience is intentionally mixed, though roughly 75% are learning disabled themselves – a community finding joy, expression, and belonging together.

Beyond the events, Bubble Club runs a DJ school, co-production workshops, and a volunteer programme with around 30 volunteers at any one time. Looking ahead, they are working to expand their pool of artists and develop a new sensory jam space with open mic opportunities – an exciting next chapter for a truly unique organisation.

The Challenge

Like many small organisations doing extraordinary work, Bubble Club’s finances had become a source of stress rather than a tool for planning. Iona, who leads the organisation, knew the numbers – but didn’t have a system that made them easy to track, communicate, or act on with confidence.As Bubble Club prepared to grow, expanding its artist network, developing new programming, and heading into a milestone year, it needed financial management that could keep pace.

The team was looking for support to build a clear, consistent system for budgeting and cash flow tracking; one that would help them report to the board, strengthen grant applications, and plan future projects without the late-night anxiety that can come with running a small CIC.

The Skilled Volunteer

That’s where Sarah stepped in.

Bringing professional expertise in budgeting and financial management, Sarah worked closely with Iona to build a practical, easy-to-use monthly tracker tailored to Bubble Club’s needs. Together, they designed a system that clearly captured income and expenditure making the financial picture visible, manageable, and communicable.

Reflecting on the experience, Sarah shared:

“It was great to be able to use the skills I’ve developed throughout my career to have a positive impact in the community. Working with Iona and Bubble Club reminded me how valuable skilled support can be to organisations doing such important work. It’s also left me more interested in exploring new ways to use my experience.”

The Impact

The difference has been felt immediately and personally. Iona described the impact in her own words:

“Working with Sarah has made a huge difference to my quality of sleep! No more worrying late at night about whether our accounts accurately reflect our spend.”

Beyond the personal relief, the new system is already changing how Bubble Club operates. With a clear monthly tracker in place, the team can now confidently communicate their finances to the board and include stronger financial evidence in grant bids. Financial management has shifted from a source of anxiety to a tool for advocacy.

As Iona explained:

“This skill makes it really easy to communicate our finances to the board and in grant bids. I am clear and confident on managing the budgets, and now have a monthly tracker to track how we are spending and earning.”

The ripple effects reach further still. With better financial oversight, Bubble Club can plan and execute its projects with greater ambition and less risk – an essential foundation as the organisation looks to grow its artist roster, launch its new sensory jam space, and celebrate 20 years of inclusive nightlife with the community it has always championed.

Looking Forward

As Bubble Club steps into its 20th year, it does so with a cleaner set of books, a calmer leadership team, and a financial system that can genuinely support its next phase of growth.

Greater financial stability opens the door to more resources, more creative opportunities, and stronger programmes for the learning disabled adults at the heart of everything Bubble Club does.

By connecting skilled expertise with community need, this project has helped an already remarkable organisation feel ready for what comes next, more music, more performance, more joy, and more nights on Brick Lane that prove disabled people belong at the centre of the cultural stage.