The Ark, one of our specialist day services in Nottingham, was delighted to welcome Councillor Zafran Khan, Sheriff of Nottingham, to officially open its new, purpose‑built sensory room.
The Ark supports children and young adults with learning disabilities, autistic people, and individuals with physical and sensory needs. Designed carefully around the needs of the people supported at the service, the new sensory environment provides a safe, inclusive and stimulating space that encourages relaxation, exploration and engagement.
This new space features an interactive infinity mirror, liquid floor tiles, an LED projector, rainbow wall mirrors, a honeycomb tactile panel, rainbow vibrating bumpers, a mounted bubble tube and a laser star projector. A cosy beanbag seating area also allows individuals to fully relax and immerse themselves in the therapeutic sensory environment.
Every element of the room has been thoughtfully selected to support individuals with complex physical and intellectual disabilities, as well as those who experience sensory processing differences. The new environment is expected to offer a range of benefits, from reducing anxiety and supporting emotional regulation to encouraging the development of coordination, fine motor skills, cognitive growth and sensory integration.
Grace Radford, service manager at The Ark, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open our new sensory room. Every piece of equipment has been thoughtfully chosen to meet the individual sensory needs of the people we support. For many of them, sensory experiences are an essential part of how they explore, understand and interact with the world around them.
“This space not only gives our service a real lift in terms of environment and expectations, but more importantly, it enables the people we support to enjoy new forms of sensory stimulation in a safe, engaging and therapeutic way. Whether it’s relaxation, developing coordination or simply experiencing joy through light and movement, this room will make a meaningful difference to daily life at The Ark.”
Councillor Zafran Khan, Sheriff of Nottingham, said: “I’m really happy to see services like this in Nottingham and the great work all the care staff do. I want to thank them from the bottom of my heart, from the civic office and everybody. Give yourself a pat on the back, because it’s unbelievable, the work here and the help people are being given, especially when they most need it.”
The opening of the new sensory room highlights The Ark’s commitment to inclusive, person‑centred support and is expected to bring meaningful benefits to the individuals who access and enjoy the space.
