Member Article

Mike Ayres Designs completes £130k multi-sensory room in County Durham

A specialist design company based in Suffolk has completed an impressive new multi-sensory room for children with special needs in County Durham.

The exciting state-of-the-art facility at Spennymoor Leisure Centre, which is believed to be one of the largest of its kind in the North East, features all the latest technology and equipment to benefit users.

Pre-school children and adults and children with special educational needs or disabilities will be able to take advantage of the room, which has been funded by Durham County Council.

The facility has been designed to stimulate all the senses, including touch, sound, vision, movement and even smell, to enhance users’ awareness of their environment. There is also a ceiling track hoist - making all areas accessible.

It is completely interactive so users can relax or interact and control all the elements – making it a unique experience each time they visit.

As well as bubble tubes, the room includes one of only three sound light floors in the country, a vibration water bed - and an ultra violet dark room.

One of the key elements of the room is lighting and there are projectors, moving light scanners and colour changing LEDs.

Users can also interact with household items such as an Apple TV, Nintendo Wii and an iPad to create their own unique experience.

The room was designed and installed by Mike Ayres Design, a company based in Bury St Edmunds.

Ayres is a professional designer with 30 years experience in creating equipment and environments for people with special needs, and was instrumental in introducing the Dutch concept of ‘Snoezelen’ into Britain in the 1980’s.

Since then he has worked on multi-sensory concepts, environments and products for care and education.

Mark Lee, Spennymoor Leisure Centre manager, said: “In creating this new facility we have consulted with users of the previous facility at Deerness Leisure Centre and the council’s sensory support team. Their input was vital and we included their feedback in the plans.

“Information was also gathered from other facilities in Sunderland, Sheffield and Manchester to make sure we can offer the best possible service to the residents of County Durham.”

Cllr John Robinson, Chairman of Durham County Council, officially opened the new multi-sensory room this week.

For more information about the multi-sensory room and the various sessions available contact Spennymoor Leisure Centre on 03000 261 161 or email leisure-spennymoor@durham.gov.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Martin Walker .