Donation makes perfect sense

Thu, Aug 30th 2007, 15:00

Scottish children with communication disabilities can now enjoy a range of experiences designed to help calm, excite or communicate at Sense Scotland’s TouchBase centre in Glasgow.

A new sensory room has been funded by the Redrow Foundation, a charitable trust set up by award winning housebuilder Redrow.

The donation of £14,000 has been used to equip the room at TouchBase, Sense Scotland’s new innovative community resource centre, in Kinning Park, Glasgow, for people with disabilities relating to communication and interaction. 

The Redrow Foundation’s funding paid for a range of equipment that was purposely chosen to offer flexibility, allowing the room to be set up in a variety of ways to suit individual preference and includes a UV reactive carpet, an infinity tunnel, a projector that casts shapes and images on the walls, a glitter ball with coloured spotlights for light reflection and mirror walls.

The sensory room not only benefits the children who use it but provides much needed peace of mind for their families by offering an appropriate and safe environment in which to play with their children. Also, it gives the parents an opportunity to meet other families who can understand and share their experiences of raising a child with communication disabilities.

Gillian Morbey, chief executive officer for Sense Scotland says: “Funding from the Redrow Foundation has made a wonderful difference to the children and families who use Sense Scotland’s services. The new sensory room looks great and is making a real impact on developing and stimulating the senses and reducing isolation.”

Sense Scotland, established in 1985, is part of the UK National Deafblind and Rubella Association. The charity offers support and guidance for both children and adults with complex support needs because of deafblindness, sensory impairment and learning or physical disabilities.

Paul Pedley, Executive Deputy Chairman for Redrow plc and a trustee of the Foundation, says “We’re honoured to support such a dedicated charity that provides much needed support to children and their families. Their new TouchBase centre really is impressive and it’s pleasing to see youngsters who have had a difficult start in life enjoying the facilities.”

The Redrow Foundation was established to celebrate the house builder’s 50,000th legal completion and a £50 contribution is now made to the trust for every home sold, many of them at developments across Scotland’s central belt, including Route 1 West, in Anniesland, Glasgow.

The Foundation is dedicated to providing financial support for the relief of poverty and sickness in the UK and, in particular, to providing accommodation and related assistance, including respite care, especially to children, the elderly and those who are sick or infirm.

To find out more about Sense Scotland, visit www.sensescotland.org.uk 

To contact the Redrow Foundation or apply for funds, email: foundation@redrow.co.uk. Further details of the charitable trust, as well as Redrow’s new homes, also available at www.redrow.co.uk