A NEW sensory room for people with disabilities – including sight loss and learning disabilities – has been created in York.

The room, situated at the Wilberforce Trust’s headquarters in Huntington, is a ‘pop-up’ facility, which will be set up with appropriate equipment for each session.

“The equipment in the room offers a variety of sensory experiences – tactile, audio, visual and smell – and will in the future combine sessions such as aroma therapy and head massage,” said a spokesman.

“In the near future, active sensory sessions, unique to York, will be added to the programme, aiming to bring cardiovascular fitness and muscular activity to those who have severe multiple disabilities.”

He said the room, funded by Wilberforce, Sainsbury’s and City of York Council, had been created following requests from a variety of support organisations in York and a consultation with some of them, including the Disabilities Trust, Mencap, the Rowntree Foundation, UBU, United Reform, and the Wilf Ward Family Trust.”

An all-day drop-in session was held earlier this week, open to disability support groups, professionals in the care sector and Wilberforce tenants from the organisation’s supported housing in York and Tadcaster.

* People and organisations wishing to use the sensory room should contact Anne Parkinson on 01904 760037 or email LLZ@wilberforcetrust.org.uk