A vital new service for disabled children in Edinburgh and the Lothians has opened its doors. A state of the art £35,000 sensory room at NCH Scotland’s Gilmerton Road Project in the capital.

The NCH Gilmerton Road Project supports between 40 and 50 children with learning disabilities and associated challenging behaviour in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The new facility includes permanently-installed equipment such as bubble tubes, rope lights, a projector and other stimulating forms of interactive play.

The manager of the NCH Gilmerton Road project, Barbara Wright said :”The magnificent support provided by the Hilton in the Community Foundation has allowed us to add this wonderful new facility to the services we already provide. It will create an even more stimulating environment for children and young people and will have a positive impact for many years to come.” 

The sensory room encourages activity, eye contact, touching and verbal responses as well as offering new ways to encourage awareness, exploration and learning, and to help young people have some control over their environment.  It will be officially opened by Sabrina Pacitti, one of the young people who uses the service, and John Roger, Vice President for Hilton UK’s north region.   The sensory room has been constructed thanks to generous support from the Hilton in the Community Foundation.

Director Simon Sheehan said, “The supporters of the Foundation work really hard to raise the funds that we donate to projects helping young people.  It is delightful to know the results of this collective effort are being directly felt by the young people in Scotland who need it most.  It is a pleasure for the Foundation to fund this sensory room which will doubtlessly brighten the lives of up to 50 disabled children.” The room will enhance the support already provided by the NCH Gilmerton Road Project which has been praised by young people who use the service and their parents and carers.