Worcester Snoezelen is 'one in a million' - The Worcester Observer

Worcester Snoezelen is 'one in a million'

Worcester Editorial 3rd Dec, 2014 Updated: 19th Oct, 2016   0

A ‘TIRED and inaccessible’ play area for people with a range of disabilities in Worcester is set to be transformed after a city charity scooped £50,000.

Worcester Snoezelen secured the money after the public voted for it to win the National Lottery and ITV partnered award called the People’s Millions.

Work is now set to get underway to revamp the centre’s play area off Turnpike Close as staff aim to turn it into an activity zone which would feature a new ball pit, overhead hoisting and digital technology.

Sean Walsh, marketing co-coordinator at Snoezelen, said they were stunned to receive the five-figure sum and he said he was confident the new-look play area would be up and running by spring next year.




“It is great news and it has not really sunk in yet,” he said. “For such a small charity to secure this huge sum of money, which is the biggest we have been awarded, is fantastic and we are now looking to crack on with the project.

“The problem we have got at the moment is that one of the play areas is tired and inaccessible for wheelchair users, so it is going to be a facility which is going to enhance the day to day fun and joy of people’s experience here.


“We get a lot of people through our doors who suffer with severe disabilities as we are there to improve their lives and these sort of interactive facilities will achieve that.”

The centre has gone on from strength to strength since it was founded by Penny Brazier in 1993 as more than 300 people use the service each week.

And Mr Walsh believes their latest funding boost has given them the confidence to look at more ways to raise awareness of their work.

“We need to really use this as a starting point to gain more exposure as a charity and also try and generate more fund-raising appeals,” he added.

“We were up against a charity which had 60 members of and a turnover of £3million in comparison to a staff ratio of 15 and turnover of a couple of 100,000 a year, so the support locally has been incredible and shows the potential is out there.”

Public Notices

View and download all of the public notices in the Worcester Observer.

Advertising

Advertise with the Worcester Observer to reach your audience

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Worcester Observer.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.