Seashell Trust Sensory Room Success
The Seashell Trust is a national charity, (number 1092655) based in Cheadle Hulme, Manchester supporting children and young people with complex learning disabilities and additional communication needs from across the UK.
Founded in 1823, originally as the Royal School for the Deaf, it is a centre of excellence, which provides a range of services for severely challenged children and young people. The vision is for children and young people to be safe, happy and achieve the best outcomes so they are valued and valuable members of their communities. The Trust provides specialist facilities including a school, college and residential houses, as they have many young people that live with them throughout the year.
Jon, Partner at Money & Mortgages successfully nominated Seashell Trust for Openwork Foundation grants towards the purchase of a specialist exercise bike, and in 2019 the refurbishment of a sensory room located in Royal School Manchester.
Dianne Gill, Trust Founder comments, “Through using the sensory room students have benefited from a safe, calming and relaxing environment, an environment that helps to stimulate the pupil’s senses and increase engagement, visual and auditory attention, and enhanced learning leading to achievement and improved self-esteem.”
So far a number of individual session themes have been created for the immersive experience room. The extra technology has enabled students to demonstrate a range of achievements, distraction, development of cause and effect and an increase in engagement and motivated learning. One major success story was creating a ‘Pop Up Cinema’ experience where each class enjoyed a private screening of the ‘The Snowman’ at Christmas. For some students, going to the cinema can be challenging and complex and can heighten already existing anxieties – this new space allowed access an activity that most teenagers without complex needs, would not think twice about doing with their friends.
Feedback from teachers – “This was a massive hit for my class, 4 young men with a diagnosis of autism. They were all delighted in being surrounded by “snow” and one even commented that he was “flying in the air” – this young man is the most able in my class and spent days afterwards singing the Aled Jones song.”
The Openwork Foundation, a UK registered charity (number 1184592) is at the heart of the Money & Mortgages business culture. The Foundation’s mission is to make a positive difference and it is proud to support vulnerable children and adults in the UK and overseas supported by the generous donations of time and money from the businesses and members of the Openwork Group. These donations to provide grants to UK registered charities, to help those most in need in our communities and all grants are nominated by a member of the Openwork Group.
Find out more:
www.seashelltrust.org.uk Registered Charity number: 1092655
www.openwork.uk.com/charity/the-openwork-foundation/ Registered Charity number 1184592
