Commercial property investment and management firm Sandyford Properties has donated £5,000 for a new sensory arbour, to local children’s charity the Peter Pan Centre for Children with Special Needs, in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
The sensory arbour is a stunning design that provides both audio and visual stimulation for children. It’s complete with musical chimes, artificial grass and multi-coloured polycarbonate sides and roof.
The arbour entrance can improve colour recognition, strengthen memory skills, and encourage melodies and music making. It’s an inclusive design which is wheelchair friendly and ideal for children with special educational needs.
Chief Executive of the Peter Pan Centre, Catherine Cook commented: “There is huge demand for the centre now, so we had to create a playground which is particularly designed to meet complex special educational needs. It means we can also open on weekends and offer more to the children we support.
“We think it’s fantastic that Sandyford Properties is so supportive as a local business. As well as being a place of discovery, our Sensory Arbour is also an excellent resource for calming an anxious child and improving positive behaviour.
“The specialist play area will bring huge benefits to the children helping them to make friends in a fun space which is specifically designed for them.”
In total, 10 donors have contributed to the playground, including four local trusts, funds, and foundations.
The playground will have a new floor with new safety surfacing, meaning play equipment designed for children with special educational needs can be installed. This will include a wheelchair roundabout, a giant playhouse which can be used in all weathers, a timber swing, sensory arbour, play tower with slide and a climb through tunnel hill.
All the selected equipment will help children to develop core muscle strength, balance, and walking skills, it will also teach the children to socialise and to develop their communication skills.
Sandyford Properties’ Managing Director Paul Brindley said: “We feel as a Stoke-on-Trent business it’s important to support local causes. The Peter Pan Centre is an excellent facility which provides invaluable provisions for children with special needs and their families. When we heard they needed funds to help develop a specialist playground, we felt compelled to offer a portion of our charity funds to their equipment.
“We can’t wait to see the final result.”
The centre’s garden is currently eight years old and needs redeveloping to meet the huge growth in demand. There are now 70 children who access the centre weekly, some once per week, others twice per week.
The Peter Pan Centre’s specialist playground was originally installed in 2015, comprising of a swing, garden area and playhouse. The growth in services users meant the garden needed an upgrade which was estimated to cost around £50k. Sandyford Properties’ donation has gone towards the sensory arbour and has contributed to the overall works.
