Blackpool will get a new sensory room to help children with mental health issues at Waterloo Road community counselling centre thanks to charity fundraiser

The sensory room, which costs £3,000 to build, will provide a therapeutic, safe space for children with special needs.

The purpose built room will be at the Counselling In The Community hub on Waterloo Road.

It will contain sensory equipment that can help calm children who are living with autism and other sensory processing disorders, and ultimately help them learn to cope with seemingly normal experiences that they find challenging.

Chair of Trustees for Counselling In The Community (CITC) Chris Webb, said: “With the sharp rise for child mental health support, we wanted to help meet that demand, especially for children with special needs."

A Christmas Party, held on Dec 17 at Dirty Blondes raised £1,100 – with support from other partners this now means the mental health charity have raised the £3,000 needed to start building the sensory room.

Chris added: “The funds raised on Saturday night mean we can now start the build next week and offer a new accessible sensory room for local children in 2023.”

The Mayor of Blackpool, Cllr Kath Benson, officially opened the fundraiser on Saturday evening.

Attendees also included Chair of Trustees from CWUHA, Carl Webb, and Cllr Jim Hobson, whom both have partnered with CITC on the sensory room.

Chair of Trustees for CITC, Chris Webb, said, “I’d like to thank the Mayor of Blackpool Cllr Kath Benson, the Leader of Blackpool Council Cllr Lynn William and all our supporters for joining us on Saturday night to raise funds for a new sensory room in our Waterloo Road hub.

Cllr Kath Benson, said, “Counselling In The Community is an inspirational local charity in the heart of Blackpool led by Chris and Stuart, alongside a fantastic team of 50 volunteers. They help hundreds of Blackpool adults and children weekly with counselling and mental health support at a time when demand is sharply rising. I’m thrilled they raised enough funds to start building their new sensory room, which will offer vital support to hundreds of children across Blackpool in 2023.”