Sensory Equipment for Children's Respite Home
The Pitch
Problem statement
The children who attend Lily’s place, Diverse Abilities children’s respite home, are profoundly disabled and many have sensory impairments or heightened sensory needs. These children need access to sensory activities and equipment. It significantly helps those who have developmental disabilities and sensory impairments to interact with the world around them in a safe and comfortable environment. A lot of the toys and equipment at Lily’s Place are outdated, and don’t necessarily meet the needs of the children who stay. As we enter a challenging winter amidst of the cost of living crisis, funding for specialist, life-enriching equipment will simply not be available.
Solution
The Staff have identified a Wi-fi integrated sensory cabin that will have a huge impact on fulfilling the children’s sensory needs. Children can enter the cabin which is both a visually stimulating and calming experience depending on how the children choose to use the space. For instance, the cabin provides a hideaway/retreat for individuals prone to sensory overload. It also enables the children to develop greater independence. The accessible controls allow children to choose the colour of the lights, patterns and sounds that the cabin produces. This promotes choice and control as well as providing opportunities to engage and interact.
Why are we best placed to deliver?
Our respite centre Lily’s place can accommodate up to four children over night and seven children during the day. Lily’s place is currently the only respite centre in Dorset for children with disabilities and profound medical needs. Facilities include fully accessible bathrooms, rooms with hoists and specialist equipment, a soft play area and sensory room. The child can also choose and experience new activities during their stay, including outings to local attractions, for example the cinema or Poole Park. The short breaks offer a lifeline for families managing the challenges of providing full time care for their child; a break for them as well as a haven in an emergency.
Focus Areas
Delivery plan
Budget breakdown
| Deluxe WiFi Cabin from ROMPA | £1,500 |
Beneficiaries
20 people
Expected impact
The sensory equipment will make a huge difference to the lives of the children who use Lily’s place, enabling the care staff to interact more closely with the children and allowing the children to improve their fine motor skills, communication skills and develop their learning through play. Key outcomes: • Provide sensory stimulation – engaging with, and exploring, the environment can have positive effects on children’s ability to react and interact with the larger world around them. • Enhance learning through play – sensory stimulation can engage different areas of the brain and can reinforce learning and activities such as speech and language therapy. • Improve balance, movement and spatial orientation - Sensory toys can help develop visual processing as well as motor skills to support physiotherapy.