Sheriff opens new sensory room at specialist Basford service
The Ark, part of Salutem Care and Education, welcomed the Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Zafran Khan, to mark the opening of the new facility, which has been created to support wellbeing, development and engagement.
The service supports children and younger adults with learning disabilities, autistic people, and individuals with physical or sensory needs.
The purpose-built room includes a range of interactive and calming features, including an infinity mirror, liquid floor tiles, LED projector, rainbow wall mirrors and a mounted bubble tube. There is also a seating area designed to allow people to relax in a quieter environment.
The equipment has been selected to meet the needs of people using the service, many of whom have complex physical and intellectual disabilities, as well as sensory processing disorders. The installation was carried out by a specialist company.
Staff say the room is expected to support a range of outcomes, including emotional regulation, coordination and sensory integration, while also providing a space for relaxation and enjoyment.
Grace Radford, service manager at The Ark, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open our new sensory room. Every piece of equipment has been thoughtfully chosen to meet the individual sensory needs of the people we support.
“For many of them, sensory experiences are an essential part of how they explore, understand and interact with the world around them.
“This space not only gives our service a real lift in terms of environment and expectations, but more importantly, it enables the people we support to enjoy new forms of sensory stimulation in a safe, engaging and therapeutic way.”
Councillor Zafran Khan added: “I'm really happy to see services like this in Nottingham and the great work all the care staff do. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart.
“Give yourself a pat on the back, because it's unbelievable, the work here and the help people are being given, especially when they most need it.”
Salutem Care and Education provides care, support and education services for people with a range of complex needs, including learning disabilities, autism, mental ill health and physical disabilities.