A NEW ultra-modern sensory room for children with learning disabilities is to be officially opened next month at a charity’s centre in Penrith.
Carlisle Mencap’s Huntley Avenue Children’s Centre was thrilled to be given a £10,000 donation from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues towards the new sensory room and specialist play equipment for the centre’s garden.
The sensory room will be officially opened on Thursday, May 9, by Ben Berry, sales and purchasing director of English Lakes, the company which runs high-class hotels in Cumbria and Lancashire including the Low Wood Bay at Windermere, the Wild Boar near Windermere, and the famous art-deco hotel The Midland at Morecambe.
Craig Scott, manager of the Huntley Avenue centre, said: “We are overwhelmed by the generosity of Ben Berry and English Lakes Hotels. We have put together a technology room which has been a project of mine for a long time, with an up-to-date television, gaming equipment, laptops and iPads giving our children opportunities for play and learning.
“We have also purchased a new basket swing for outdoor play. This equipment will make a huge difference to the children and we can’t thank English Lakes enough.”
The new sensory facility is to be called Sam’s Room in honour of Sam, the big cuddly dog that is the English Lakes’ mascot. Sam’s Club is the company’s children’s activity club. He will also be one of the guests of honour at the opening ceremony.