Andy’s Children’s Unit has seen some big changes over the past year, undergoing a once in a lifetime refurbishment which has included a much-needed update to our sensory room.

We’re excited to announce that our new and improved, state-of-the-art sensory room is now complete and ready for children and young people to enjoy a safe and calm environment. The equipment within the sensory room includes a ball pit, fibre optic curtain, interactive/sensory wall panels, disco ball, sound ball, sky light ceiling panels, an omiReflex+ projector – which makes one of our walls completely interactive – a heated waterbed, star lights for the ceiling, sensory bubble tubes, rocking chairs, and sensory touch panels on the wall.

Elinor Whitaker, Head of Children’s and Wellbeing Services, described the benefits of having these state-of-the-art facilities, “Every single patient on our caseload benefits from the use of our sensory room in some capacity or another. The benefits include; calming, relaxing, development of fine and gross motor skills, socialisation and stimulation. And that list is not exhaustive.

“Not only is our sensory room a calm environment to help reassure and manage emotions in some of our children and young people, but it is also a relaxed atmosphere to conduct certain activities and mechanisms for managing stimulation overload.”

At Andy’s, our motto is making each day count. This is why we are committed to creating positive memories for our patients and families, regardless of how long they have with us. Our sensory room is integral to providing those positive, calm and relaxing memories for children and their families.

Thank you to East Coast Community Fund, Morrisons Foundation and National Lottery Awards for All for their support of this project.